ukrakt 

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REFERENCE. 

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Received 187// 


Ju^tu^   C\emevTC    VVcnc^ 


THE  TR]  P 


STEAMER  OCEANUS 


$,wX  jhitnttr  mA  t&toxUtton,  £.  §, 


Comprising  the   Incidents   of  the  'Excursion,    the    Appearance,   at  that    time,    of  th< 

City,  and  the  entire  Programme  of  Exercises  at  the  Re-raising 

of  the   Flag  over  the   Ruins  of 


FORT    SUMTER, 
APRIL   14th,    1865 


BY  A  COMMITTEE  APPOINTED  BY  THE  PASSENGERS  OF  THE  OCEAN  US. 


BROOKLYN  ; 
"THE  UNION"  STEAM  PRINTING  HOUSE,  10  FRONT  STREET 

1865. 


77V1 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1865, 

By  J.  CLEMENT  FRENCH  and  EDWARD  CARY. 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Eastern   District   of    New    York. 


INTRODUCTORY   NOTE. 


The  preparation  of  this  book,  whatever  may  be  its  reception 
by  those  to  whom  it  is  dedicated,  has  been  a  labor  of  love. 
Unsought,  and  almost  under  protest,  the  work  was  under- 
taken, at  the  unanimous  request  of  the  passengers  of  the 
"  Oceanus."  It  was  an  addition  to  stated  professional  duties, 
which  the  committee  appointed  were  exceedingly  reluctant  to 
accept.  But,  once  begun,  it  brought  its  reward  continually, 
in  the  joy  of  living  over  again  minutely,  every  scene  which 
made  the  excursion  to  Charleston  the  most  memorable  as  to 
object,  enjoyment  and  inspiration,  which  our  national  history 
has  ever  made  possible. 

The  work  effects  no  faultlessness.  In  the  brief  space  during 
which  it  was  composed,  there  was  little  opportunity  for  elabo- 
ration. It  professes  to  be,  not  a  treatise  upon  national  affairs, 
nor  yet  a  discussion  of  principles,  but  a  current,  unimagina- 
tive, and  therefore  we  trust,  a  perfectly  truthful  narration  of 
scenes  and  incidents,  from  the  hour  the  "  Oceanus"  left  the 
wharf,  until  she  brought  us  there  again.  The  writers  describe 
not  only  what  wras  seen  and  enjoyed  by  themselves,  but  by 
hundreds  of  others,  who  are  asked  to  bear  witness  to  the 
faithfulness  of  these   records. 


THE  TRIP  OF  THE  OCEANUS 


•att  gamier  mnb  muxlmtm,  jssmtfy  ^awliraa. 


CHAPTER   I. 

When  the  welcome  intelligence  readied  the  North 
that  Charleston  was  occupied  by  the  victorious  legions 
of  Gen.  Sherman,  the  expectation  was  universal  that  a 
day  would  be  appointed  for  the  formal  raising  of  the 
United    States    flag   over    the    ruins    of  Fort   Sumter. 

That  expectation,  our  President  did  not  disappoint. 
With  that  unerring  discernment  of  appropriate  times 
and  seasons,  for  which  he  was  ever  remarkable,  he 
named  the  fourteenth  of  April,  the  fourth  anniversary 
of  the  surrender,  and  the  lowering  of  the  banner  for  a 
four  years1  banishment.  From  the  first  appearance  of 
this   proclamation,    it    was   felt   that    the   occasion    would 


(J  TRIP   OF   THE   OCEANUS. 

be  one  around  which  national  and  historic  interest  would 
gather.  Upon  that  day,  every  loyal  son  of  the  United 
States  would  exult,  and  give  praise  to  God ;  every  trai- 
tor or  sympathizer  with  treason,  if  not  too  hardened, 
would  blush  for  the  temerity  and  wickedness  which  at- 
tempted dishonor  to  the  nation's  standard;  every  well- 
wisher  to  the  American  Republic,  in  foreign  lands, 
would   sing   in   his   heart    a   glad    "  Te   Deum^ 

It  was  known  that  a   steamer,  officially  commissioned, 
would   convey   to   the   Fort  all   those  who  were  to   take 
active  part   in   the  exercises,  together   with   a  few  more 
favored    individuals;    but    what    should    they    do,    who 
were  not  within  that  charmed  circle,  the  "  ignolile  md- 
gus?  who  were  not  so  happy  as   Government  patronage, 
just  at  this  time,  would  have  made  them?     Fortunately, 
a    few   gentlemen,    to   whom    all   the   passengers   of    the 
Oceanus,  upon  that  ever-memorable  excursion,  will  always 
be    grateful,    conceived    and    executed    a   plan   to    afford 
this  pleasure  to  a  goodly  number  of  their  fellow-citizens. 
These   gentlemen   were   Messrs.    Stephen   M.    Griswold 
and  Edwin  A.  Studwell,  of  Brooklyn,  who  subsequently 
associated  with   themselves   Mr.  Edward   Gary,  Editor  of 
The    Union,   whose   services  were   confined,   however,    to 
issuing  the  tickets  and  receiving  the  money  at  the  office 
of  that  paper.     In  pursuance  of  a  plan  arranged  by  these 
gentlemen,  the  steamer  "  Oceanus'1  was  chartered  of  the 
Neptune  Steamship  Company,  G.  S.  Howland,  President, 
for   nine   days,   for   which  time   she  was   turned  over  to 
the  Committee  for  a  trip  to  Charleston,  and  such  other 


TRIP    OF    THE   OCEANUS.  7 

points  as  the  passengers  should  deeide  to  visit.  Orio-i- 
nally,  the  plan  of  the  trip  embraced  not  only  Charleston 
Harbor  and  Fort  Sumter,  but  Hilton  Head,  Fort  Fisher, 
Fortress  Monroe,  Norfolk,  Portsmouth,  and  possibly  City 
Point,  to  which— when  we  heard  of  the  fall  of  the  Kebel 
capital—  Kichmond,  also,  was  conditionally  added.  The 
expenses  of  the  trip  were  divided  among  the  passengers 
equally,  so  that  $100  paid  for  berth  and  meals  for  the 
round   trip. 

The  first  announcement  of  the  proposed  excursion  was 
made   in  The    Union  of  March    30th,  in  a    very    modest 
and  succinct  manner;  the  statement  was  repeated  on  the 
following  day,  and  also  made  from  Mr.  Beecher's  pulpit 
on  Sunday.     The  result  was  a  rush  for  tickets,  beginning 
on    the   31st,   and   increasing  to  such   an   extent  that   on 
Monday,  the   3d  of  April,   the  Committee   enlarged    the 
number   of   passengers   from   one   hundred   and    fifty,    as 
originally  determined,  to  one  hundred  and  eighty.     The 
scenes    in    the    office    of    The     Union    were     extremely 
amusing,  resulting  from  the  earnestness  of  the  applicants, 
their  nervous   anxiety  each  to  secure  the   best  accommo- 
dations possible,  and  from   the  hearty  good   humor  with 
which  all  treated  each  other.     The  increase  in  the  num- 
ber of  passengers  wholly  failed   to   satisfy   the   demand; 
twice  as  many  would  have  eagerly  taken  the  opportunity 
to  go,  if  possible,  and  another  party  was  projected,  which 
was   abandoned   only  because  no   other   suitable   steamer 
could  be  obtained. 

Finally,  on  the  eighth  of  April,  it  was  duly  announced 


8  TKIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

that  all  the  preparations  were  completed.  The  contract* 
for  the  boat  had  been  duly  signed,  the  tickets  disposed 
of,  passes  obtained  for  the  passengers  individually,  and 
a  very  liberal  general  permit,  direct  from  the  War  De- 
partment, for  the  vessel— the  latter  largely  through  the 
kind  offices  of  Mr.  H.  C.  Bowen,  of  the  Independent ; 
the  provender  had  been  stored,  the  vessel  put  in  sea- 
going order,  and  Hon.  Cyrus  P.  Smith,  President  of  the 
Union  Ferry  Company,  had  kindly  proffered  the  use  of 
one  of  the  largest  of  the  East  River  ferry-boats  to  trans- 
fer the  passengers  from  the  foot  of  Montague  Street  to 
the  dock  of  the  Oceanus,  at  the  foot  of  Robinson  Street, 
on  the  Xorth  River,  whence  the  excursionists  were  to 
start  at  noon,  precisely,   of  the   10th. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th,  at  half-past  ten,  the 
Fulton  Ferry  boat  Peconic  started  with  her  joyous  com- 
pany, which  was  duly  transferred  to  the  Oceanus.  The 
scenes  at  the  wharf  of  the  steamer  were  characteristic: 
the  passengers  coming  on  board  in  good  time  and  cheer- 
ily, while  many  were  still  awaiting  a  possible  vacancy. 
The  only  addition  to  the  company  was  Col.  Howard,  of 
the  128th  Colored  Regiment,  who  was  eager  to  reach 
his  command  at  Charleston,  having  just  come  from 
Sherman's  triumphant  army  at  Savannah,  where  he  had 
been  attached  to  the  staff  of  his  brother,  Gen.  Howard. 
The  time  for  departure  having  come,  the  crowd  upon 
the  wharf  gathered  to  bid  us  God-speed. 

And  a  God-speed  we  had— possibly  barring  the  speed— 

*  See  Appendix. 


TRII'    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 


but  with  good  cheer,  good  nature,  faithful  seas,  grand 
music,  glowing  patriotism,  congenial  company,  hearts  over- 
brimming with  joy — save  the  last  Dark  Day — and  pre- 
eminent Divine  favor,  from  the  hour  that  we  waved  our 
adieus,  till  again  we  touched  the  wharf  at  the  foot  of 
Robinson  Street  —  all  of  which  we  will  proceed  to  nar- 
rate with  as  much  faithfulness  as  possible  in  the  next 
and  succeeding  chapters. 


CHAPTEE    II. 

At  10  minutes  past  12  o'clock  M.,  April  10th,  the 
screw  of  the  good  steamer  Oceanus  began  its  recalcitra- 
tion,  slowly  pushing  its  precious  and  happy  freight  out 
upon  the  bosom  of  the  river.  Cheer  upon  cheer  broke 
forth  from  the  crowd  gathered  upon  the  wharf,  re- 
sponded to  by  the  passengers  tilling  every  available 
standing  place  upon  the  vessel's  landward  side;  hats 
and  handkerchiefs  were  waved  in  the  air,  and  parting 
messages  exchanged,  until  the  shouting  and  signals  be- 
came futile  by  the  increasing  distance.  It  was  evident 
that  we  had  left  hundreds  of  envious  and  yet  congratu- 
latory hearts  behind.  We  bore  our  enjoyment  and 
honors  meekly. 

The  day  was  in  unhappy  mood.  All  the  morning 
the  skies  had  lowered.  A  fine,  filtering  mist  had  only 
slightly  dampened  our  ardor.  Now  the  rain  increased, 
and  a  tenuous  fog  thickened  gradually  over  the  surface 
of  the  bay.  It  was  not  an  auspicious  inauguration  of 
our  voyage,  but  the  doubting  were  assured  by  the  hope- 
ful, who  quoted  the  venerable  and  philosophic  maxim 
"  A  bad  beginning  makes  a  good  ending." 

In  the  smooth  waters  of  the  harbor,  we  were  pluming 


TEIP   OF   THE   OCEANUS.  11 

ourselves  upon  the  delightful  steadiness  of  the  steamer. 
The  inexperienced  were  sure  that  the  discomforts  of  a 
sea  voyage,  must  have  been  greatly  overstated.  Now 
we  pass  Governor's  Island,  and  the  familiar  landmarks 
in  our  own  enterprising  City ;  we  leave  upon  our  left, 
Fort  Lafayette,  that  boarding  place  of  sundry  treason- 
enacting  individuals,  and  upon  our  right,  the  fortifica- 
tions and  heights  of  Staten  Island  ;  now  we  point  out 
the  low  sandy  waste  of  Coney  Island,  and  descry  in 
the  misty  distance  the  light-house  of  Sandy  Hook.  It 
is  the  opinion  of  the  writer  that  somewhere  near  this 
locality  the  hitherto  staid  steamer  began  to  lose  its  re- 
putation for  steadiness,  and  certain  passengers,  whose 
temperance  and  sobriety  is  proverbial,  to  exhibit  strange 
symptoms  of  inebriety.  Upon  this  point,  however,  owing 
to  temporary  aberration  of  his  own  intellect,  he  would 
prefer  not  to  be  considered  authority.  Yet  he  has  suf- 
ficient distinctness  of  memory  to  recall  a  peculiarly 
gyratory  motion  among  the  passengers,  as  they  attempted 
to  navigate  the  cabin,  the  clutching  here  and  there  of 
an  outsider  at  the  gunwale,  and  occasional  visages  of 
more  than  ordinary  pallor.  He  remembers  one  gentle- 
man of  portly  carriage  and  still  happy  face,  standing 
near  the  cabin  entrance  with  his  friends,  who,  upon  a 
sudden  roll  of  the  vessel,  was  caught  just  behind  the 
knees  by  an  opportune  chair,  and,  as  he  was  tilted  over 
backward  into  its  cushioned  receptacle,  remarked  some- 
what drily,  "  I  believe  I'll  sit  down."  The  situation, 
which  had  been  in  a  good  degree  comical,  was  now  be- 


12  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

coming  more  serious,  when  suddenly — rub — thump — stop — 
and  we  were  aground.  We  had  struck  the  sand-spit, 
and  all  the  tempest  of  the  screw  only  sufficed  to  beat 
the  shallow  waters  into  unavailing  foam  at  the  stern. 
We  hailed  our  supposed  deliverer  in  a  puffing,  spitting 
steam-tug,  just  in  the  offing,  but  which,  upon  being 
lashed  to  the  great  hulk  of  the  Ocean  us,  appeared  like 
an  ant  tugging  at  a  kernel  of  corn,  and  was  about  as 
efficient.  Signal  was  given  for  a  pilot-boat,  which  soon 
came  bearing  down  before  the  breeze,  and  when  within 
fifty  yards,  dropped  a  row-boat  astern,  containing  a  pilot, 
and  two  oarsmen.  Soon  an  order  comes  for  the  gen- 
tlemen to  go  forward,  as  the  vessel  is  aground  aft.  We 
all  go  out  upon  the  forward  deck,  and  stand  with  com- 
mendable patience  in  the  sifting  rain.  The  effect  be- 
comes speedily  apparent,  for,  depressed  at  the  bow  by 
such  a  weight  of  corporeal  and  mental  ballast,  the  ship 
swings  clear  of  the  sand,  and  we  discover  by  the  buoys 
that  we  are  drifting  free.  A  few  querulous  individuals 
undertake  to  chaffer  with  the  old  salt,  who  stands  wTith 
arms  akimbo  upon  the  window  casement  of  the  pilot- 
house. They  soon  learn  that  the  experience  of  twenty 
years  at  sea  not  only  perfects  the  nautical  science,  but 
sharpens  the   wits  of  a  New  York  Harbor  pilot. 

"Can't  you  take  us  out  this  afternoon?"  asks  an  im- 
patient passenger. 

"  I  reckon  I  can,  if  you  say  so,"  responds  the  son  of 
Neptune ;    "  but  you'd  better  lay  here  to-night." 

"Why  so?" 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANU8.  13 

kt  You  gentlemen  want  to  go  to  Charleston,  don't  you  ?" 

"  Of  course" — from  a  dozen   voices. 

"  Wall,   you'd    better    lay    here    then    to-night,    for   it's 
goin'  to  be  a  werry  dirty,  nasty  night  outside." 

Meanwhile,  the  Committee  are  holding  a  conference 
with  the  captain,  and  returning,  submit  the  question  to 
the  vote  of  the  passengers,  which,  by  a  very  large  ma- 
jority, is  decided  in  favor  of  remaining  for  clearer  weather, 
until  morning  if  necessary;  accordingly,  while  a  few  of 
the  opposition  are  warmly  debating  the  possibilities  of 
danger  and  too  long  delay,  lest  we  might  miss  the  cele- 
bration of  the  coming  Friday,  with  a  rush  and  noise  like 
small  thunder  down  goes  the  anchor,  and  we  lie  as  mo- 
tionless in  the  shallow  waters  at  Sandy  Hook  as  if 
moored  at  the  wharf  at  the  foot  of  Eobinson  St.  The 
temporarily  sea-sick  reappear.  The  cabins  are  tilled  with 
groups  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  joyously  discussing  the 
morning  news  of  the  surrender  of  Lee,  the  prospects  of 
the  excursion,  and  the  sensible  conclusion  to  wait  for 
brighter  skies  ;  or,  disposed  in  various  attitudes,  and  with 
nondescript  pens  and  pencils,  and  extemporized  bits  of 
letter  paper,  writing  a  few  words  to  home  friends,  jocu- 
larly dating  their  missives,  uOn  Sandy  Hook."  A  well- 
known  fellow-citizen  of  the  happiest  countenance  acts  as 
collecter  of  these  epistles,  and  is  the  mail-carrier  to  the 
pilot. 

The  Chairman  of  the  Committee  summons  the  passen- 
gers to  the  deck  below,  and  explains  to  them  the  ar- 
rangements for  the  trip,  the  sea-worthiness  of  the  vessel, 


14  TRIP   OF   THE   OCEANUS. 

the  capacity  and  variety  of  the  larder,  and  answers  the 
queries  of  the  inquisitive  with  satisfactory  minuteness 
and  good  nature. 

Nothing  was  left  us  now  but  to  kill  time  in  the  most 
entertaining  and  profitable  manner  possible  ;  and  it  was 
to  the  quick  intelligence  of  a  lady  that  we  were  indebted 
for  a  patriotic  meeting  in  the  evening,  which  was  the 
jubilant  key-note  for  all  its  successors;  a  series  of  meet- 
ings, whose  enjoyableness  in  all  the  elements  of  patriotic 
fervor  and  eloquence,  pathos,  breadth,  wit,  and  humor, 
is  seldom  equaled. 

The  meeting  of  Monday  evening  was  organized  by 
the  appointment  of  Hon.  Cyrus  P.  Smith,  President ; 
Hon.  Edward  A.  Lambert,  Joshua  Leavitt,  D.  D.,  Henry 
C.  Bowen,  Hon.  A.  M.  Wood,  and  S.  M.  Griswold,  Vice- 
Presidents,  Hon.  George  Hall  and  Mr.  E.  A.  Studwell, 
Secretaries.  Mr.  Wm.  B.  Bradbury  kindly  consented  to 
act  as  Director-General  of  music,  the  piano  being  gener- 
ously furnished  for  the  trip  by  Messrs.  Sawyer  &  Thomp- 
son. 

The  most  humorous  introduction  was  given  to  the 
exercises  by  the  facetious  proposition  to  sing,  in  begin- 
ning, "¥e  are  out  on  the  ocean  sailing"  —  the  most 
perfect  burlesque  upon  our  situation,  fast  at  the  end  of 
an  anchor  chain,  and  as  motionless  as  the  hills  of  Nevi- 
sink.  When  the  explosion  of  laughter  which  greeted 
this  announcement  had  subsided,  the  familiar  Sabbath- 
school  glee  was  sung  with  a  will.  Peculiarly  suggestive 
to  many  seemed  the  last  three  lines : 


TRIP   OF   THE    OCEANUS.  15 

"When  we  all  are  safely  landed 
Over  on  that  golden  shore, 
We  mil  walk  about  the  city"  etc.,  etc. 

Rev.  Theo.  L.  Cuyler  was  called  upon  to  state  the 
object  of  the  meeting.  For  half  an  hour  he  stated  it 
with  anecdote  and  illustration,  reminiscence  and  appeal, 
in  a  strain  of  fervid,  patriotic  eloquence,  and  resumed 
his  seat  amidst  a  storm  of  applause.  His  speech  was  a 
fitting  preparation  for  the  soul-stirring  song,  "Rally 
round  the  nag,  boys ! "  which  followed  at  his  request. 
We  may  remark,  in  passing,  that  throughout  the  entire 
excursion,  the  unusual  amount  of  excellent  musical  as 
well  as  speaking  talent  was  brought  into  daily  requisition. 

The  second  speaker  of  the  evening  was  Rev.  O.  B. 
Frothingham,  whose  well-considered,  earnest,  and  timely 
address  was  listened  to  with  very   marked   attention. 

Rev.  H.  M.  Gallaher,  of  the  Nassau  Street  Baptist 
Church,  a  stranger  to  many  of  the  party  at  the  outset, 
was  next  introduced,  and  for  nearly  an  hour  kept  the 
company  in  a  tumult  of  laughter  and  applause  by  his 
side-splitting  stories,  his  racy  narrations,  his  broad  come- 
dy, his  glowing  eulogies  of  his  adopted  country  —  he  is 
an  Irishman — and  his  brilliant  climaxes.  He  was  no 
longer  a  stranger  to  the  passengers  of  the   Oceanus. 

Mr.  Bradbury's  spirited  national  glee,  "  Victory  at 
last,"  which  all  the  musical  on  board  seemed  to  catch 
as  by  intuition,  was  then  sung  with  a  vociferous  effect, 
which  might  almost  have  been  heard  on  shore.  This 
song  became  one  of  the  indispensable  spiceries  of  every 


16 


TltlP    OF    THE    OCEAN  US. 


occasion,  and,  by  the  kind  permission  of  its  author,  is 
to  be  found,  with  the  music,  in  the  appendix. 

A  brief  address  was  made  by  Kev.  J.  Clement  French, 
followed  by  Col.  Howard,  previously  mentioned.  The 
Colonel's  address  was  replete  with  practical  common 
sense,  and  with  frank  and  cordial  acknowledgment  of 
the  services  of  the  privates,  such  as  might  have  been 
expected  from  a  true  soldier,  whose  best  record  is  to  be 
found  in  his  deeds. 

After  the  grand  old  Doxology,  "  Praise  God  from 
whom  all  blessings  flow,"  the  meeting  adjourned,  subject 
to  the  call  of  the   President. 

And  it  was  high  time,  for,  during  the  speeches  of 
the  last  two  gentlemen,  the  sounds  of  hurrying  feet 
upon  the  decks  had  been  heard  ;  the  welcome  news  had 
been  whispered  through  the  company  that  we  were 
weighing  anchor,  and  were  about  to  proceed  on  our 
way ;  the  now  familiar  roll  of  the  ship  began  again  to 
be  experienced;  the  speakers  were  steadying  themselves 
against  the  table  and  iron  braces  of  the  cabin,  and  a 
very  few  of  the  most  sensitive  had  quietly  withdrawn 
to  their  state-rooms.  Going  forth  to  the  bow,  we  found 
that  the  steamer  had  already  left  the  lights  of  Sandy 
Hook  far  in  the  distance,  the  dull  clouds  were  opening 
in  rifts,  through  which  the  friendly  moon  smiled  promi- 
ses of  a  fairer  sky;  the  pilot  wTas  gone,  and  we  were 
fairly  at  sea. 

Despite  the  inspiriting  effects  of  these  pleasant  omens, 
the  duty  of  an  honest  historian  compels  us  to  state  that 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  17 

certain  stalwart  gentlemen,  with  an  excess  of  self-denial, 
gave  whatsoever  they  had  laid  by  at  the  snpper-table  to 
the  hshes  of  the  sea.  The  general  impression  seemed 
to  prevail  that  it  was  high  time  for  all  honest  and  pa- 
triotic individuals  to  be  in  their  berths.  Further  than 
this,  concerning  Monday  night,  your  deponent  saith  not. 
To  attempt  a  description  of  the  scenes  on  board  our 
vessel  throughout  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  and  Thursday 
morning  for  you  indeed,  might  be  amusing,  but  for  us, 
"it  is  not  convenient.,,  A  strange  oblivion  concerning 
those  hours  settles  upon  our  memory.  We  remember 
hearing  the  strains  of  Helmsmuller's  Band  contending 
with  the  creaking  of  the  rolling  ship,  and  the  dashing 
of  the  waves;  an  occasional  nourish  by  some  fair  hand 
upon  the  piano,  supplemented  by  a  distressed  sound  in 
the  after  cabin ;  the  voice  of  Helon  Johnson,  the  colored 
waiter,  singing  in  the  adjoining  state-room  the  tantaliz- 
ing ditty, 

"  Rocked  in  the  cradle  of  the  deep, 
I  lay  me  down  in  peace  to  sleep," 

—the  rich  sweetness  of  whose  tones  only  enhanced  the 
impertinent  mockery;  the  unsteady  tread  of  the  ex- 
empt, as  they  shambled  past  our  door;  the  untouched 
bowls  of  soup  ;  the  prescriptions  without  number  of  sea- 
water,  brandy,  mustard,  lemon-juice,  ice-cream,  salt  pork, 
et  id  omne  genus ;  the  glimpses  we  caught  through  the 
crack  of  the  door  of  serried  rows  of  mattresses  in  the 
cabins,  each  bearing  a  pale-faced,  despairing  female, 
whose   head  was    in   painful   proximity   to   a  little  green, 


18 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 


semi-lunar  basin  of  tin,  with  chambermaids  hurrying  to 
and  fro,  themselves  worn  down  by  constant  service  ;  the 
brave  resistance  to  sea-sickness  by  our  room-mate,  who 
had  weathered  the  storms  of  Lake  Erie  and  Michigan 
until  the  heavy  sea  of  Thursday  morning  obliged  him 
to  succumb;  how  he  rushed  into  the  state-room  where 
we  were  writhing  in  superlative  wretchedness,  divested 
himself,  in  a  twinkling,  of  his  outer  and  nether  integu- 
ments, plunged  into  his  berth  with  the  expressive  de- 
claration, "Whew!  I'm  as  dizzy  as  a  bat,"  until  we  of 
the  lower  berth  writhed  again  witli  irrepressible  laugh- 
ter— these  few  distinct  recollections  come  floating  through 
the  vagueness  which  gathers  over  those  darksome  days, 
and  may  serve  as  hints  for  those  who  desire  to  treasure 
up   the  more  ludicrous  incidents  of  the  voyage. 

But  the  meetings  went  on,  with  diminished  numbers, 
it  is  true,  but  witli  no  abatement  of  interest.  On  Tues- 
day evening,  Edward  A.  Lambert,  Esq.,  presided.  We 
were  told  that  the  Rev.  A.  P.  Putnam  made  the  Open- 
ing address,  fully  equaling  the  occasion  in  impressiveness 
and  power;  that  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Corning  spoke  pointedly 
and  pleasantly ;  that  Charlton  T.  Lewis,  Esq.,  of  New 
York,  delighted  the  audience  with  the  clearness  and 
force  of  his  thought,  and  the  graceful  finish  of  his  rheto- 
ric;  that  Rev.  II.  M.  Gallaher  again  scintillated  with 
increasing  popularity;  and  Rev.  Dr.  Leavitt  gave  weight 
and  dignity  to  the  occasion  by  his  narrations  of  personal 
experience,  and  forceful  utterances  of  practical  truth,  while 
music  and  applause  and  laughter  tilled  up  all  the  inter- 
stices of  the  hastily-fleeting  hours. 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  19 

We  were  indebted,  on  each  of  these  occasions,  to  Miss 
Phoebe  B.  JVIerritt  and  Miss  Mary  Bowen  for  some  ex- 
cellent piano  solos. 

Wednesday  passed  with  little  of  special  interest.  The 
sea  was  calmer.  Cape  Ilatteras  had  been  cleared  with- 
out inconvenience  additional.  We  were  experiencing  a 
marked  modification  of  temperature.  State-rooms  became 
uncomfortably  close.  It  was  said  that  the  sea  outrivaled 
the  sky  in  the  depth  and  infinity  of  blue  ;  that  a  school 
of  porpoises  rolled  their  black  backs  above  the  waves  in 
merry  gambols  around  the  steamer,  and  that  those  who 
had  "  oil  on  the  brain"  looked  with  stoical  indifference 
upon  a  whale.  It  was  also  averred  that  the  culinary 
and  dietetic  arrangements  were  becoming  more  and  more 
satisfactory,  and  that  the  number  gathered  about  the 
board   was    upon    the   increase. 

A  third  meeting  was  held  in  the  evening,  presided 
over  by  Hon.   A.  M.  Wood,  of  Brooklyn. 

The  first  speaker  upon  this  occasion  was  Mr.  A.  M. 
Powell,  a  correspondent  of  the  Tribune.  His  address 
was  thoughtful,  earnest,  radical,   and  convincing. 

Col.  Howard,  Hon.  Edgar  Ivetchum,  Dr.  J.  Allen, 
Revs.  T.  L.  Cuyler  and  II.  M.  Gallaher,  with  others, 
continued  the  interest  of  our  former  gatherings.  At  the 
close,  several  of  the  colored  waiters,  whose  choruses 
upon  the  lower  decks  had  attracted  much  attention, 
were  invited  to  sing  for  our  company.  Coming  modest- 
ly into  so  august  a  presence,  they  rendered  the  "  John 
Brown"   song  with   peculiarly  fine  effect. 


20  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

Throughout  the  afternoon  of  Wednesday,  and  part  of 
the  night,  we  were  enveloped  in  an  impenetrable  fog. 
But  the  morning  of  Thursday  was  clear  and  beautiful, 
with  no  other  motion  for  our  vessel  than  that  imparted 
by  the  long  roll  of  the  sea.  But  this  was  now  excessive. 
The  steamer,  being  a  propellor,  had  nothing  with  which 
to  overcome  the  trough  of  the  sea,  in  which  we  were 
fearfully  rocking.  She  would  make  from  four  to  six 
heavy  lurches,  then,  for  a  few  seconds,  all  would  be 
comparatively  quiet;  then  as  many  more  rolls,  and  all 
things  not  lashed  down,  including  men  and  women, 
pitch  across  the  cabin.  Some  of  the  stoutest  and  bravest 
had  to  show  the  white  feather  this  morning.  The  rear 
cabin  again  became  a  hospital.  It  was  thought  that  we 
must  be  very  near  Charleston.  We  were  promised  the 
sight  of  its  spires  by  eight  o'clock  A.  M.,  but  we  did 
not  see  them.  All  day  long,  until  three  o'clock,  the 
steamer's  course  was  laid  nearly  due  west.  How  could 
it  be  that  we  were  so  far  from  land  ?  At  last  it  was 
ascertained  that  during  the  night  we  had  been  borne 
to  the  eastward  by  the  Gulf  stream,  and  this  distance 
was  now  being  recovered. 

At  length,  not  far  from  three  o'clock,  the  joyful  shout, 
"  Land  ho  !  *  quickened  the  languid  pulses,  dissipated 
the  ennui,  called  out  of  their  seclusion  the  pallid  and 
bilious-tinted,  and  crowded  the  deck  with  eager-eyed 
searchers,  through  opera-glasses,  for  the  coveted  terra- 
firma.  The  light-ship  was  plainly  visible,  upon  whose 
side,    the    most   clear-sighted    could    read    the    suggestive 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  21 

name,  "Rattlesnake  Shoals."  Beyond  could  be  descried 
the  low  reach  of  land:  a  dim  pile,  which  we  were  as- 
sured was  Fort  Sumter,  and  still  further,  the  spires  of 
the  once  proud,  but  now  humbled,  Charleston.  The 
arrival  on  board  of  the  pilot  completed  our  satisfaction, 
and   the  welcome  he  received  was  unfeigned. 

He  was  a  short,  stout  man,  dressed  in  army  blue,  with 
which  the  color  of  his  large,  fiat  eye  precisely  corres- 
ponded. His  face  was  nut-brown,  from  the  tintino-  of 
Southern  breezes.  He  was  born  and  brought  up  in 
Charleston.  He  at  once  informed  the  captain  that  the 
bar  could  not  be  passed  until  high-tide,  at  six  o'clock. 
Accordingly,  the  anchor  was  dropped,  and  we  gently 
rocked  for  two  hours  "in  the  cradle  of  the  deep."  This 
pilot  is  now  in  Government  employ.  When  asked  if 
all  the  people  of  Charleston  were  loyal,  he  shrugged  his 
shoulders,  and  made  no  reply. 

One  said:  "We  are  going  down   to  make  you  loyal." 

"  You  won't  make  me  loyal,"  said  the  old  tar,  "  for 
I   always  ham  been." 

We  afterwards  learned  that  his  testimony  concerning 
himself  was   true. 

2 


CHAP  TEE    III. 

The  scenes  which  greeted  the  passengers  of  the  Ocean ns, 
as  we  slowly  steamed  toward  and  through  the  harbor  of 
Charleston,  not  even  the  most  stolid  and  impassable  will 
ever  forget. 

At  precisely  six  o'clock,  anchor  was  weighed.  The 
entire  company  was  upon  the  decks,  with  glasses  ready 
for  observation.  The  band  took  its  position  upon  the 
very  bow.  Previous  to  starting  from  the  anchorage,  there 
had  been  a  brief  shower,  giving  a  delicious  freshness  to 
the  air,  and  leaving  the  western  heavens  overspread 
with  heavy,  breaking  clouds  of  gray.  Suddenly  a  sign 
appeared  before  us,  of  singular  and  portentous  interest. 
The  rays  of  the  sun  smote  a  circular  opening  in  the 
murky  clouds,  hemming  their  edges  with  a  band  of  light, 
and,  just  for  a  moment,  poured  down  a  flood  of  glory 
upon  the  jagged  walls  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  waters 
of  the  harbor. 

The  pilot  stood  at  the  window,  from  which,  besides 
giving  his  directions  to  the  helmsman,  he  announced  the 
various  points  of  interest,  as  we  approached  and  passed 
them. 

The  first  object  of  note  was  a  line  of  low  earthworks 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  23 

upon  the  left  shore,  upon  the  top  of  which  were  several 
soldiers,  whose  muskets  glistened  in  the  light.  They 
were  watching  the  approach  of  our  vessel,  and  as  we 
moved  along,  ran  wildly  down  to  the  sandy  beach, 
waving  their  handkerchiefs  in  joyous  welcome.  Just 
beyond,  were  two  buoys,  marking  the  spots  where  the 
Keokuk  and  Weehawken  were  sunk,  the  staff  upon  the 
bow  of  the  latter  being  visible,  to  which  the  hand 
of  some  eager  patriot  had  lashed  a  small  American  flag. 

We  would  not  fail  to  record  another  display  in  the 
sky,  which  just  at  this  point  arrested  every  gaze,  and 
called  forth  from  the  entranced  observers,  at  length,  a 
burst  of  the  wildest  enthusiasm.  It  was  no  mere  fig- 
ment of  the  imagination,  but  a  vision  to  the  reality 
and  beauty  of  which  every  passenger  on  the  Oceanus 
was   a  delighted  witness. 

All  at  once  arose  a  cry  of  admiration,  as  a  hun- 
dred hands  pointed  to  the  spectacle.  "  See !  the  red, 
white,  and  blue  !  the  red,  white,  and  blue  !" — for  there, 
right  before  us  in  the  western  heavens,  the  scarlet  streak- 
ings  of  the  sunlight  lay  in  parallel  bars  of  amazing  equi- 
distance upon  the  grayish  blue  background  of  mist,  in- 
termingled here  and  there  with  white  bands  of  the  nearer 
clouds,  the  whole  forming  a  singularly  perfect  picture  of 
our  beloved  flag,  hung  out,  as  it  seemed,  by  the  hand 
of  God,  over  the  recovered  city,  and  greeting  with  its 
celestial  benison  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  North 
who  were  bringing  the  tidings  of  Lee's  surrender,  and 
the  death  of  the  Eebellion. 


24  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

As  the  thought,  in  all  its  significance,  suffused  our 
souls,  many  an  eye  was  moist,  and  hands  were  clasped, 
in   the  devoutness  of  joy. 

Now,  we  are  passing  a  long  and  low  tongue  of  land, 
beyond  which  the  bay  returns  backward.  Upon  this 
stands  Fort  Wagner,  of  the  deepest  historic  interest. 
Here,  for  the  first  time,  it  was  demonstrated  that  negroes 
could  and  would  fight  terribly,  desperately,  even  to  de- 
cimation. Along  that  narrow  causeway,  exposed  to  the 
murderous  direct  tire  from  the  Fort,  the  dauntless 
regiment  charged  with  the  impetuosity  of  a  tempest,  to 
be  rolled  back  by  the  torrent  of  shot  and  shell ;  again 
and  again  rallied  and  charged  against  fearful  odds,  until 
their  Colonel,  the  noble  and  lamented  Shaw,  fell  in  his 
blood,  the  idol  of  his  men,  and  the  admired  of  all  the 
brave. 

It  is  not  certainly  known  where  his  body  sleeps. 
There  were  some  of  Carolinian  blood,  whose  apprecia- 
tion of  heroism  rose  no  higher  than  the  plantation  edict : 
"Bury  him  with  his  niggers!"  Some  say  that  his  re- 
mains were  scattered  by  the  Rebels  to  the  four  winds 
of  heaven.  Others  affirm  that  they  were  buried  obscurely 
near  the  spot  on  which  he  fell.  It  is  reported,  also, 
that  when  it  was  proposed  to  his  father  to  remove  the 
dust  of  the  heroic  soldier  to  some  other  burial-place,  he 
replied  that  "  he  wanted  no  better  or  nobler  grave  for 
his  son  than  the  very  soil  upon  which  he  poured  out 
his   blood." 

Next,   we   pass   Sullivan's   Island,    upon    the    angle   of 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  25 

which  was  the  famous  CtHtimings'  Point  Battery,  built 
of  railroad  iron,  and  which  rolled  the  cannon-shot  of 
Sumter  from   its  sides  as  though  they  had   been  peas. 

Now  wTe  are  approaching  Fort  Sumter  itself,  the  cen- 
tre of  all  present  observation  and  interest.  There  it  lies, 
like  a  vast  disabled  monster,  crouching  in  sullen  and  con- 
scious imbecility,  in  the  centre  of  the  harbor.  Its  para- 
pets, once  so  lovely,  are  battered  into  jagged  shapeless- 
ness.  Its  sides  are  deeply  pock-marked  and  indented. 
Heaps  of  rubbish  and  debris  around  its  base  disclose  the 
terrific  ordeal  through  which  it  has  passed  since  April, 
1861.  From  the  new  nag-staff  in  its  centre  waves  the 
Banner  of  the  Republic,  never  again  to  be  displaced  by 
the  hand  of  the  traitor.  Its  port-holes  are  mostly  closed. 
Rows  of  wicker  baskets  can  be  descried,  tilling  up  the 
ghastly  chasms.  Here  and  there  upon  the  walls,  a  sen- 
tinel paces  to  and  fro.  Involuntarily  our  heads  are  all 
uncovered.  A  solemn  silence  pervades  the  throng,  as 
for  a  moment  the  thought  of  the  past  four  years,  with 
their  changes,  passions,  carnage,  suffering,  defeats  de- 
pression, and  hnal  triumph  Hashes  through  every  mind. 
There  is  but  one  language  which  can  express  the  emo- 
tions of  that  moment.  It  is  the  language  of  thankful 
song.  And,  as  by  a  common  inspiration,  our  voices 
break  forth  in  one  grand,  surging,  heaven-echoed  chorus : 

"  Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow  ! 
Praise  Him,  all  creatures  here  below ! 
Praise  Him  above,  ye  Heavenly  Host ! 
Praise  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost!" 

That    allelulia   is   heard   by    the   guardians   of  the   old 


26  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

ruin.  In  quick  response,  the  nag  is  dipped,  the  walls 
bristle  with  armed  men  waving  their  salute ;  the  band 
peals  forth  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner" — fitting  har- 
mony to  be  rolled  back  upon  the  recreant  sons  of  the 
South  Carolinian  who  penned  its  measures — and  we  move 
on  to  other  scenes.     Fort  Sumter!  cm  revoirf 

Just  beyond  the  ruin,  at  the  left,  lies  the  wreck  ot 
the  famous  old  noating-battery,  built  by  Beauregard,  with 
which  to  take  the  fort.  A  portion  of  one  of  its  sides, 
with  four  port-holes  visible,  still  remains  above  the  wa- 
ter. Near  by,  are  the  wrecks  of  two  English  blockade- 
runners,  the  smoke-stacks  and  bowsprit  only  being  in 
sight.  To  the  right  is  Fort  Moultrie, — abandoned  by 
Major  Anderson  and  his  brave  followers  in  1861,  for  the 
stronger  defense  of  Fort  Sumter,  now  in  good  condition, 
though  never  a  fortification  of  superior  strength.  Bat- 
tery Bee  extends  its  low  earth-mounds,  now  green  with 
luxuriant  grass,  for  a  long  distance  towards  the  city. 
Fort  Ripley  appears  in  the  midst  of  the  water,  a  small 
and  insignificant  redoubt,  built  by  the  Rebels,  with  the 
stones  taken  from  the  streets  of  Charleston. 

Beyond,  and  of  more  importance,  rises  Castle  Pinckney, 
surrounded  by  a  high  light-house. 

On  either  side  of  the  harbor,  the  shores  are  crowned 
with  groves  of  the  pines  peculiar  to  this  country,  their 
tops  branching  and  interwoven,  and  presenting  to  the 
inexperienced,  the  appearance  of  the  palmetto.  This 
latter  tree  shows  itself  but  sparsely  here.  We  saw  but 
one   or  two   specimens,  and    these   were    as   crooked   and 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  27 

uninteresting  as  the  natives  whose  cross-grained  State 
they  symbolize. 

All  these  places  of  martial  reputation  were  greeted  as 
we  passed,  with  cheers,  the  band  meanwhile  playing 
patriotic  airs,  for  we  saw  waving  above  them  all,  the 
Banner  of  the  Free. 

We  were  now  abreast  of  the  United  States  vessels-of- 
war  at  anchor,  the  blockading  vessels  released  from 
service,  the  captured  blockade  runners,  the  Government 
transports,  and  two  monitors  scarcely  clearing  the  water's 
edge.  To  each  of  these  we  shouted  the  news,  which  was 
received  with  wild  hurrahs,  and  the  rapid  dipping  of  the 
colors.  A  unique  and  beautiful  sight  presented  itself 
through  the  thickly  gathering  twilight,  as  we  steamed 
past  the  men-of-war.  At  a  given  signal,  the  boys  in 
blue  sprang  to  the  shrouds,  ran  up  like  so  many 
squirrels,  walked  out  upon  the  yard-arms,  tilled  all  the 
rigging,  and  aspired  even  to  the  top-masts ;  then  turn- 
ing about,  they  waved  their  hats  in  exultation,  and  sent 
their  ringing  cheers  across  the  water. 

The  monitors  lie  nearest  the  city.  It  is  easy  to  under- 
stand the  contempt  which  the  Rebels  felt  for  the  first 
craft  of  this  description,  as  commanded  by  the  gallant 
Worden,  it  bore  down  upon  their  vast  lumbering  monster, 
the  Merrimac,  in  the  waters  of  Hampton  Eoacls.  Their 
title,  bestowed  at  that  time,  was  certainly  graphic,  "  A 
Yankee  cheese-box  afloat."  And  yet  the  "  cheese-box" 
has  poured  contempt  upon  the  "  wooden  walls"  of  En- 
gland, and  revolutionized  the  naval  warfare  of  the  world. 


28  TEIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS. 

Darkness  was  now  settling  heavily  upon  ns.  We 
could  dimly  discern  the  Battery,  with  its  row  of  once 
magnificent  mansions,  with  the  marks  of  shells  upon 
them.  Before  us  lay  the  City,  dead  to  all  appearances. 
Half  a  dozen  lights  gleamed  along  the  wharves,  but 
these  were  upon  our  own  vessels.  Not  the  nickering  of 
a  taper  was  to  be  seen  in  any  other  part  of  the  City. 
It  was  the  very  darkness  of  desolation.  We  could  see 
the  crowds  gathering  upon  the  wdiarves  and  vessels. 
As  we  drew  nearer,  a  voice  was  heard  faintly  calling 
through  the  gloom. 

" What's  the  news?" 

One  of  our  company,  a  man  of  stentorian  lungs,  put- 
ting his  hands  to  his  mouth,  roared  forth,  the  thrilling 
intelligence. 

"Lee  has  surrendered,  with  his  whole  army!"  Again5 
the  voice  from  the  shore,  faintly. 

"Have  we  got  Lee!" 

uYes!"  thundered  the  spokesman,  and  then  from  the 
shore,  uprose  such  a  peal  of  huzzas,  such  a  wild  tumult 
of  exultation  as  made  the  night  vocal.  The  band  on 
board  the  Blackstone,  which  lay  at  the  wharf,  struck  up 
the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  to  which  our  band  res- 
ponded "My  Country,  'tis  of  Thee,"  then  again  from  the 
shore,  the  "Ked,  White  and  Blue,"  and  from  the  Oceanus, 
"  Hail  Columbia !"  and  enthusiasm  indescribable  reigned. 
As  we  came  up  to  the  anchorage  near  the  wharf,  we 
waited  for  a  permit  to  enter  the  dock.  Though  Gen.  Gil- 
more   had  not  yet  arrived  from    Hilton    Head,  an  officer 


TBIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  29 

from  one  of  the  U.  S.  steamers  from  Savannah,  having 
a  very  creditable  faith  in  our  loyalty,  boldly  cut  red 
tape,  and  authorized  our  captain  to  swing  up  to  the 
wharf. 

This  done,  a  few  eager  members  of  the  party  were 
determined  to  go  ashore.  Much  confusion  ensued,  but 
at  length  half  a  dozen  succeeded  in  their  purpose,  and 
made  their  way  to  the  Charleston  Hotel,  where  they 
announced  the  news  to  Gen.  Wilson,  and  others.  The 
wharf  was  covered  with  a  motley  gang  of  native  negroes, 
contrabands,  poor  whites  and  rough-looking  fellows,  whose 
appearance  was  anything  but  an  invitation  to  familiari- 
ty. The  remainder  of  the  party  retired  to  the  supper 
table  to  satisfy  an  appetite  whetted  by  long  delay. 
After  supper,  a  meeting  was  called  in  the  Ladies'  Cabin. 
Dr.  Leavitt  was  appointed  Chairman.  He  said  that  it 
would  be  regarded  by  all  as  eminently  appropriate,  after 
so  many  and  signal  mercies,  through  which  we  had  been 
safely  brought  to  our  destination,  to  recognize  the  good- 
ness of  Almighty  God. 

Eev.  J.  S.  Corning  was  called  upon  to  make  a  few 
remarks,  befitting  the  occasion,  at  the  conclusion  of 
which  Rev.  J.  Clement  French  was  invited  to  offer  a 
prayer  of  thanksgiving  to  God  for  his  "  eminent  mercy 
to  ourselves  since  we  left  New  York,  and  his  great 
loving  kindness  to  our  beloved  country." 

Pleasant  speeches  followed.  By  10  o'clock  the  party 
which  had  gone  ashore,  returned,  bringing  with  them 
flowers  which  they  had  gathered  from  the  gardens. 


30  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

Rev.  Mr.  Cuyler,  holding  up  a  boquet  of  roses  and 
mock  oranges,  made  it  the  text  for  one  of  his  most  effec- 
tive addresses.  Capt.  Hunt,  of  Brig.-Gen.  Hatch's  staff, 
brought  us  the  salutations  of  the  oflicer  commanding, 
and  in  his  name  tendered  us  the  freedom  of  the  city, 
with  promise  of  conveyance,  and  privilege  of  gathering 
all  the  flowers  we  might  desire.  Gen.  Hartwell,  and 
Major  Nutt,  of  the  155th  Colored  Kegt.,  who  had  just 
returned  from  a  ten  days  raid  into  the  interior  of  S.  C. 
entertained  us  until  midnight  with  accounts  of  their  ad- 
ventures, and  we  reluctantly  retired,  that  we  might  be 
refreshed  for  the  visit  to  the  city  on  the  following 
morning. 


CHAPTEE    IV. 

The  morning  of  the  ever  memorable  Friday,  April 
14th,  dawned  at  length.  It  is  surmised  that  more  of 
the  passengers  of  the  Ocean ns  witnessed  its  rising  sun 
than  are  wont  to  behold  that  matin  spectacle.  For, 
when  the  writer,  in  the  pale  grey  twilight,  first  stepped 
forth  upon  Southern  soil,  the  wharf  was  alive  with  the 
members  of  our  party,  and  numerous  gentlemen  were 
returning  from  moonlight  strolls  through  the  city,  their 
hands  and  arms  laden  with  flowers  and  sprays  of  ex- 
quisite fragrance  and  verdure.  A  slight  shower  during 
the  night  had  laid  the  dust  and  lent  a  delicious  coolness 
to  the  air. 

Breakfast  was  ordered  promptly  at  six  o'clock.  This 
preliminary  business  being  disposed  of,  we  were  re- 
quested by  our  enterprising  fellow-citizen,  Mr.  W.  E. 
James,  to  bestow  ourselves  as  eligibly  as  possible  upon 
the  decks  of  the  steamer,  to  be  instantaneously  photo- 
graphed. Some  of  our  first  reflections  in  Charleston, 
were  made  at  this  moment. 

It  had  been  announced  that  we  should  have  until  ten 
o'clock  for  rambling  about  the  city,  at  which  hour,  pre- 
cisely, the  transports  would  leave  for  Fort  Sumter.     The 


32  TRIP    OF    THE    OOEANUS, 

majority  of  the  company  were  now  waiting  for  the  con- 
veyances so  kindly  promised  by  Capt.  Hunt,  the  evening 
previous.  He  had  stated  that  the  authorities  had  im- 
pressed all  the  carriages  in  the  city  for  the  convenience 
of  their  Northern  friends.  About  eight  o'clock,  an  army 
ambulance,  drawn  by  a  span  of  sorry  animals,  by  cour- 
tesy yclept  horses,  wTas  discovered  approaching  upon  the 
wharf.  A  passenger  jocularly  remarked,  "  Here  come 
the  carriages !"  whereupon  a  pleasant  laugh  went  round. 
Soon  a  line  of  similar  vehicles  was  drawn  up  alongside 
the  Oceanus,  flanked  by  sundry  dilapidated  carriages, 
carts,  omnibusses,  fish-wagons  or  whatever  goeth  upon 
four  wheels  or  two,  and  drawn  by  mules,  jacks  and 
donkeys,  or  whatsoever  goeth  upon  four  legs  or  three. 
This  was  the  livery  of  Charleston.  And,  surely  enough, 
these  were  our  carriages.  With  no  little  merriment 
these  equipages  were  received,  but  the  alacrity  with 
which  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  stowed  themselves 
within  them,  showed  conclusively  how  little  they  stood 
upon   the  ceremony  or  "order  of  their  going." 

Not  from  any  contempt  for  these  vehicles,  but  from 
the  conviction  that  sight-seeing  could  be  better  accom- 
plished in  the  primitive  way  of  traveling,  we  set  out 
on  foot,  accompanied  by  a  few  friends,  and  turned  our 
footsteps  into  the  avenue  known  as  the  Battery,  when 
we  first  began  to  realize  what  war  had  done  for  the  in- 
famous city  of  Charleston. 

The  Battery  is  a  fine  and  straight  promenade,  about 
a  quarter  of  a   mile   in   length,    built  directly   upon   the 


TRTP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  33 

waters   of  the   harbor.     A    wall   of  masonry  rises   six    or 
seven  feet  to  the  broad  esplanade  or  pavement  of  stone, 
commanding  a   magnificent  prospect  of  the  Bay,  and  all 
the   fortifications   therein.       The   street   is   without   pave- 
ment,   the    stones    having    been    used    for    fortifications. 
Upon    the   opposite   side   of  the    street,   stand    the   once 
elegant    mansions    of    the    "aristocracy."      This  Battery, 
and  these  residences,    four  years   ago  were  teeming   with 
thousands  of  surging,  frantic  Charlestonians,  as  they  wit- 
nessed the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter.     Every  foot  of 
space   in    the   street   and    upon   the   promenade,   was   oc- 
cupied ;  every   window,    doorway,    balcony    and    housetop 
was    crowded     with     huzzaing     Secessionists,    men     and 
women,  glorying  over  the   chivalry    which  pitted  10,000 
armed    men,    under    cover    of    strong    ramparts,    against 
seventy    heroes,  true  to  their   country's  flag;  shut   up  in 
the  narrow  enclosure  of  a   Fort  and   cut  off  by  the  sea 
from    all    possibility    of    retreat.      Every   shot   from    the 
doomed   Sumter   and    from   the   surrounding   batteries,  as 
it  went  screaming  to  its  work  of  demolition,  or  fell  hiss- 
ing into  the  sea,  could  be  distinctly  seen  by  the  excited 
spectators   on    land;    and    as   the    fiery   hail   was  poured 
without  intermission  for  two  days  and  a  night,  into  that 
enclosure    of   about   four   acres,    setting   fire    to   the   bar- 
racks and  officer's  quarters,  and  as  the  black  smoke  rose 
gloomily  up  to  the  heavens,   or  at  night,  was  lit  up  by 
the  flash   of  guns   and  the  reflection   of  firelight,  it   must 
have  seemed  to  one,   who  could   read   God's  providences 
in    the    light   of  a    prescient    faith,    as    the  pillar    of  fire 


34  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

and  cloncl  which  was  destined  to  go  before  a  race  des- 
despised  and  enslaved,  till  it  should  lead  them  out  into 
the  promised  land  of  liberty  and  peace. 

And  throughout  those  two  terrible  days,  as  long  as 
they  could  serve  a  gun,  the  faithful  fellows  under  the 
command  of  the  heroic  Anderson,  poured  forth  their 
defiant  volleys,  until  reason  and  humanity  combined  to 
dictate  a  surrender. 

How  changed  now  the  scene !  At  the  entrance  of  the 
Battery  lies  a  rusty,  dismounted  gun  upon  the  debris 
of  an  old  earthwork.  The  crowd  has  fled — God  only 
knows  whither.  Desolation  and  ruin  sit  monarchs  of  the 
place.  Here  we  began  to  see  the  effect  of  Gen.  Gil- 
more's  shells,  thrown  from  a  distance  of  five  and  a 
quarter  miles  from  the  city.  The  splendid  houses  were 
all  deserted,  the  glass  in  the  windows  broken,  the  walls 
dilapidated,  the  columns  toppled  over.  Some  had  escaped 
with  scarcely  a  scratch,  while  others  were  battered  into 
shapeless  ruin.  Holes  have  been  made  entirely  through 
them,  from  two  to  six  feet  in  diameter,  roofs  have  been 
broken  in,  sleepers  uptorn  and  scattered,  arches  demol- 
ished, mantels  shattered,  while  fragments  great  and  small, 
of  every  description  strew  the  floors.  These  were  the  man- 
sions of  the  "Aristocracy:'  The  style  of  architecture  is 
somewhat  peculiar.  Of  many  of  the  edifices,  the  main  body 
is  from  three  to  four  stories  in  height,  with  rooms  very  large 
and  high.  Upon  one  side,  immense  verandahs  or  piazzas 
with  heavy  columns — a  verandah  for  each  story — and  all 
having    treselated    floors,    must    have    formed    the    most 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  35 

breezy,  sightly  and  delightful  resorts  for  the  enervate 
occupants.  In  one  of  these  houses,  a  flight  of  eighty 
marble  steps  conducts  to  the  upper  stories.  All  these 
residences  are  surrounded  by  broad  gardens,  abounding 
yet  with  the  most  luxuriant  growth  of  trees  and  shrubs — 
the  orange,  the  mock  orange,  the  magnolia,  the  lilac, 
the  hawthorn,  the  jasmine,  roses  and  vines  of  every 
variety.  The  gates  were  flung  wide  open  by  order  of 
the  military  authorities,  and  we  availed  ourselves  of  the 
permission  to  pluck  and  carry  away  whatever  floral 
trophies  we  desired. 

Many  of  these  gardens  give  evidence  yet  of  the  great- 
est horticultural  skill  and  taste,  though  at  present,  of 
course,  sadly  neglected.  In  some  parts,  the  growth  of 
vegetation,  trees,  shrubs,  vines  and  rose  bushes  was  so 
dense  and  tangled  that  we  could  not  force  our  way 
through  by  the  former  paths.  Here  and  there,  romantic 
bowers  of  box  and  hawthorn  appear.  Some  of  the  rose 
trees  grow  to  an  astonishing  height,  and  fairly  bend 
with   their   wealth  of  blossoms.     One  rises  from   eiffht  to 

to 

twelve  feet  from  the  ground,  bearing  a  rose  of  delicate 
golden  tint,  and  of  size  surpassing  our  largest  cabbage 
roses.  And  as  the  magnificent  flowers,  in  their  rank  pro- 
fusion, touch  each  other,  and  seem  to  melt  together  all 
over  the  top  of  the  tree,  they  fully  justify  the  name  by 
which  they  are  called  "the  cloth  of  geld."  It  was  not 
yet  the  season  for  the  orange  and  magnolia,  and  though 
we  missed  their  spicy  fragrance,  we  were  nearly  com- 
pensated   by    the    lush    and    glossy    greenness    of   their 


36  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

leaves.  The  blossoms  of  the  mock  orange  were  abun- 
dant. 

Here  we  were,  in  the  lull  flush  of  Summer,  with  the 
affluence  of  foliage  and  floral  beauty  all  around  us.  We 
had  come  from  the  North,  with  only  the  first  signs  ol 
returning  Spring  to  be  seen,  in  here  and  there  a  crocus 
and  daffodil,  the  springing  grass  and  the  freshening 
green  of  willows  in  reflected  heats,  or  along  the  water- 
courses. It  was  like  magic.  We  were  in  another  zone. 
The  air  was  spiced  with  the  aroma  of  flowers,  and 
freighted  with  the  melody  of  birds,  all  guiltless  of  seces- 
sion, and  warbling  out  their  welcome. 

But  the  owners  of  these  estates — where  are  they? 
Fled — and  all  the  proud  traits  of  their  aristocracy  and 
superiority  hushed  in  the  streets  of  the  silent  city. 
They  are  fugitives  and  vagabonds,  wandering  up  and 
down  the  interior  mountains  and  plantations  of  South 
Carolina,  indulging  still  the  dreamy  delusion,  that  the 
day  is  just  at  hand  when  Lee  will  annihilate  Grant  and 
Sherman,  and  then  the  Co7ifederacy  shall  speak  from 
the  throne  and  pulpit  of  Charleston,  its  dictum  of  sov- 
ereignty to  the  States  and  to  the  world.  Such  was  the 
story  we  were  told  by  those  who  remain.  But  was 
Charleston  a  unanimously  disloyal  city  throughout  the 
four  years  during  which  the  huge  Rebellion  was  ram- 
pant? We  may  answer — with  few  exceptions — but  these 
will  be  ever  honored.  Rev.  A.  P.  Putnam,  in  his  letter 
to  the  Independent,  says : 

"  There    is   one    name,   at    least,    that   will    shine   out 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANU8.  37 

with  glorious  lustre  in  the  history  of  these  dark  years 
of  Charleston.  It  is  that  of  the  immortal  'Petigru.' 
From  the  very  first,  and  until  he  died,  he  denounced 
the  rebellion  and  its  authors  in  most  unmeasured  terms 
of  severity.  Publicly  and  in  private,  he  exposed  the  sin 
of  treason,  and  proclaimed  his  loyalty  to  the  Union  and 
its  flag.  When  asked  one  day  by  a  stranger  where  was 
the  Lunatic  Asylum,  lie  exclaimed,  '  Every  where  in 
the  city;  the  people  are  all  mad!'  It  was  a  marvel 
that  he  was  not  assassinated.  It  was  doubtless,  only  his 
old  age,  his  powerful  family  influence,  and  his  wide 
connections,  that  saved  him.  Perhaps  the  people  re- 
garded him  as  having  fallen  into  his  dotage,  and  were 
willing  to  tolerate  one  who  was  such  an  extraordinary 
exception  to  the  general  rule.  There  were  others,  how- 
ever, in  the  doomed  city,  who  were  as  loyal  as  he,  but 
they  were  not  in  a  position  to  utter  so  freely  their  sen- 
timents. And  of  all  the  affecting  incidents  or  stories 
connected  with  the  war,  I  scarcely  know  of  one  more 
touching  than  that  during  the  long  and  frightful  reign 
of  the  rebellion  in  that  birth-place  of  our  national 
troubles,  a  small  band  of  loyal  men  were  wont  to  meet 
occasionally  in  a  secret  upper  chamber,  where  with 
closed  doors  they  unfurled  the  flag  of  the  Stars  and 
Stripes,  and  in   tears,  drank  to  its  perpetual   success." 

The  members  of  our  company  were  everywhere  seen 
emerging  from  these  deserted  houses  and  gardens,  cross- 
ing and  recrossing  the  streets,  with  boquets  of  fabulous 
dimensions  in  their  hands,  or  chaffering  with  some  little 


38  TRTP    OF    THE    O0KANTTS. 

negro   girl    for    a  flower   of  extraordinary  beauty.     Pass- 

Oct  f  • 

ing  on,  we  come  to  the  South  Battery,  a  much  broader 
and  more  beautiful  promenade,  and  resembling  our  city 
parks,  with  trees  of  lusty  growth,  wide  walks,  and  par- 
terres with  flowers.  At  the  angle,  high  mounds  of 
earth  had  been  thrown  up,  serving  the  double  purpose 
of  storehouses  and  magazines,  and  earthworks  for  the 
mounting  of  heavy  guns.  Irishmen  were  engaged 
in  removing  them.  The  only  instance  of  animosity 
taking  palpable  form  towards  any  of  the  passengers  of 
the  Oceanus,  occurred  at  this  point.  One  gentleman, 
standing  a  few  yards  from  the  spot,  with  his  back  to 
the  workmen,  was  struck  on  the  leg  by  a  stone,  inten- 
tionally thrown  by  one  of  these  Irishmen. 

Near  this  point  still  remain  a  seven-hundred  pound 
Blakely  gun,  which  the  Rebels  had  loaded  to  the  muz- 
zle, and  burst  upon  their  evacuation  of  the  city.  The 
finest  residences  face  the  South  Battery  also,  retaining 
still  many  evidences  of  their  original  wealth  and 
beauty. 

As  we  pass  up  Meeting  and  King  Streets,  which 
together  with  East  Bay  and  Broad  Streets,  constitute 
the  main  business  portion  of  the  city,  the  traces  of 
demolition  become  more  numerous  than  upon  the  Bat- 
tery. Ghastly  holes  appear  in  roofs  and  walls,  iron 
doors  and  blinds  are  bent  double,  cornices  are  shivered, 
pavements  are  torn  up  and  ploughed,  making  very  pre- 
carious footing  after  nightfall.  Fragments  of  brick  and 
stone  lie  scattered  on  every    hand.      Occasionally,  a  face 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  39 

could  be  seen  at  the  windows,  glowering  sullenly  at  ns 
as  we  passed,  but  no  indignity  was  offered,  nor  in  any 
case  threatened.  Negroes  of  every  shade  thronged  the 
streets;  gray  haired  "uncles"  and  turbaned  "aunties," 
grinning  and  giggling  children,  and  "  picaninnies,"  all 
manifesting  joy  to  see  us,  in  their  own  peculiar  methods, 
from  the  quick  and  not  disgraceful  curtsey,  to  the 
frantic  throwing  up  of  the  arms,  clapping  of  hands,  and 
the  fervent  exclamations  of  "  De  Lord  bress  ye,  we  so 
powerful  glad  you've  come !"  Some  of  their  welcomes 
were  really  affecting,  and  many  a  visitor  that  day  lis- 
tened with  emotion  to  their  simple  stories  of  suffering, 
and  their  rude  but  cordial  expression  of  greeting. 

Advancing  along  these  streets,  we  come  to  the 
district  burned  in  1861.  That  tire  consumed  nearly  a 
fifth  part  of  the  city.  These  ruins,  which  no  attempt 
has  been  made  to  rebuild,  stand  in  all  their  deso- 
lateness,  increased  by  the  havoc  of  the  bombardment. 
The  tall  chimneys,  grim  and  charred,  the  dilapidated 
walls,  overgrown  with  moss,  the  cellars,  rank  with 
grass,  weeds  and  thistles,  the  streets  without  pave- 
ment, and  ankle-deep  with  sand,  are  a  startling 
commentary  upon  the  accounts  with  which  we  were  fa- 
vored during  the  war,  by  the  Charleston  papers,  to 
the  following  effect : 

"  The  Yankees  continue  to  shell  the  city,  with  about 
the  usual  consequences,  of  here  and  there  a  chimney 
toppled  over,  and  a  negro  badly  frightened,  but  with 
no  actual  damage."     Now  we  saw  that  the  entire   lower 


40  TRIP    OF    THE    OOBANU8. 

and  business  part  of  the  city  must  have  been  as  de- 
serted as  the  ruins  of  Herculaneum. 

All  the  grandees,  who  flaunted  in  their  pride  of 
wealth  and  caste,  and  flogged  their  negroes  irresponsi- 
bly, coining  every  dollar  out  of  the  "  unrequited"  sweat 
and  blood  of  their  bondmen,  have  lied  penniless  and 
ruined  into  the  interior,  while  in  r  strange,  yet  ever 
righteous  revolution  of  the  wheels  of  retributive  justice, 
these  same  negroes,  now  "free  as  \  am,"  nestle  in  the 
ancient  homes,  and  hold  their  fantastic  jubilees  in  the 
self-same  halls,  which  once  echoed  to  their  oppressors 
revels.  A  verv  few  have  returned,  and  possess  their  old 
homesteads,  having  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance,  some 
heartily  and  to  receive  the  kindly  protection  of  our 
forces,  but  the  majority  only  through  fear,  and  to  save 
what  little  property  the  Rebel  government  had  left 
them.  Many  a  Southern  "gentleman,"  who  four  years 
ago,  rejoiced  in  his  thousands,  is  to  day  a  vagabond;  or, 
if  still  remaining  in  the  city,  professedly  loyal,  is  a 
pauper  ami  beneficiary,  on  a  level  with  the  most 
WTetched  contraband   who  sues  for  alms  as  you   pass. 

Concerning  the  condition  of  the  inhabitants,  Rev.  Mr. 
Cuyler,  thus  writes  to  the  "Evangelist." 

"With  the  exception  of  a  few  blockade-running  specu- 
lators, who  sent  their  profits  abroad  for  investment,  the 
merchants  and  planters  of  Charleston  are  hopelessly 
bankrupt.  We  saw  the  cashier  of  the  bank  of  Charles- 
ton come  up  to  the  commissary's  door,  and  receive  his 
pittance  of  bread   and  rice  for  his  daily  food,  just  as  the 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  41 

refugee  negroes  were  cluing  a  few  doors  off.  We  went 
through  Secretary  Meraminger's  deserted  and  once  splen- 
did mansion;  the  remaining  contraband  told  us  *  Massa 
Memmenger-  sent  his  money  over  to  Europe;  he  he  up 
in  Nort  Carolina;  he  be  rich  to-day.'  A  gentleman  in 
Charleston,  says  that  he  saw  in  the  books  of  a  bank  in 
Havana,  the  sum  of  $100,000  in  gold,  credited  to  Jeff- 
erson Davis.  Gov.  Aiken,  told  me  that  if  this  were  so. 
it  must  be  the  gift  of  friends,  for  said  he,  "Mr.  Davis 
spent  all  his  salary,  and  is  considered  poor."  Not  onlv 
is  Charleston  aristocracy  bankrupt,  but  most  of  them 
are  dead.  Grov.  Aiken  said,  sadly  enough  ;  "our 
most  wealthy  young  men  enlisted,  many  of  them 
as  privates,  they  are  nearly  all  dead  or  in  prison; 
South  Carolina  has  among  her  whites,  nobody  left 
but  old  men  and  little  boys.'  Truly  the  iron  has 
entered  into  Charleston's  proud  soul,  and  she  is  the 
most  blasjted,  blighted,  broken-hearted  desolation  on  this 
continent.  Her  cup  of  misery  is  filled  to  the  brim.  I 
could  not  exult  over  her  woeful  wretchedness,  although  1 

to 

felt  that  it  was  not  one  whit  more  than  her  stupen- 
dous sin  has  richly  deserved.  She  has  lived  on  the 
spoils  of  the  plundered  bondmen  ;  now  her  turn  has 
come  for  the  bondmen  to  dwell  in  the  deserted  places 
of  the    slave-ocrat.      Robert    Small,    the     famous     negro 

to 

captain  of  the  steamboat  "Planter,"  (who  has  now  a 
salary    of    $1,800   as    her    commander,)    is     able    to    ^ive 

"/  to 

bread  to  half  the  bank-presidents  and  brokers  of 
Broad  St." 


42  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

Upon  some  of  the  houses,  we  found  placards  to  the 
following  effect : 

a  Safe-guard — Protection  is  hereby  given  to  the  pro- 
perty    of he — or    she — generally  the   latter — having 

taken  the  oath  of  allegiance." 

"  This  house  is  occupied  by  the  permission  of  the 
Provost-Marshal.  " 

"  Taken — by  consent  of  the  authorities." 

"  To  be  occupied  by  the  owner,  who  has  taken  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States." 

In  the  windows,  or  upon  the  doors  of  the  business- 
houses  or  shops,  licenses  were  posted,  declaring  that  the 
occupant,  who  had  taken  the  oath,  or  paid  the  fee  re- 
quired by  act  of  Congress,  might  carry  on  the  business. 

Our  examination  of  the  city,  during  the  two  hours 
allotted,  was  necessarily  cursory.  The  time  had  elapsed, 
and  now  the  passengers  were  to  be  seen  returning  from 
every  direction,  laden  with  flowers  of  richest  line  and 
odor,  and  lugging  together  various  mementoes  and  relics 
gathered  among  the  gardens  and  public  buildings.  As 
the  chronological  order  of  arrangement  in  this  work  is 
the  most  simple  and  natural,  it  will  be  followed,  though 
apparently  at  the  sacrifice  of  unity.  We  shall  therefore 
return,  in  a  succeeding  chapter,  to  a  more  minute  des- 
cription of  scenes  and  incidents  in  the  city  of  Char- 
leston. 


CHAPTER    V. 

Leaving  the  Oceanus  at  the  wharf  at  ten  o'clock,  we 
embarked  on  the  transport  "  Golden  Gate,"  for  Fort 
Sumter.  The  scene  in  the  harbor  was  gay  beyond  des- 
cription. The  "Canonicus,"  h  Government  vessel,  crowded 
in  every  part  by  the  "  boys"  in  bine  pants  and  jackets, 
first  headed  up  the  bay  towards  the  fort.  Lines  of 
flags,  and  signals  of  every  color  and  combination  of 
colors,  scores  and  hundreds  in  number,  stretched  from 
bowsprit  to  foremast,  from  foremast  to  main,  from  main 
to  mizzen,  and  from  mizzen  to  stern  ;  crossed  and  fes- 
tooned from  yard  to  yard,  and  upon  all  the  rigging, 
made  the  vessel  a  blaze  of  prismatic  brilliancy.  The 
"  Blackstone,"  a  very  large  screw-steamer,  decked  with 
equal  profusion  of  bunting  and  beauty,  next  rounded 
majestically  into  broader  waters.  Then  followed  the 
u  Delaware"  and  "  Robert  Coit,"  Government  transports, 
bearing  their  burden  of  rejoicing  and  eager  patriots. 
Almost  central  in  interest,  the  "  Planter,"  crowded  almost 
to  suffocation  upon  her  three  decks,  with  Gen.  Caxtoirs 
freedmen,  revealed  her  splashing  paddles  through  the 
broken  wheelhouse.  Another  such  a  motley  crew  will 
seldom    if  ever    be    seen.       Grey-haired    old    men,    whose 


44  TRIP    OF    THE    OOEANUS. 

wrinkles  were  lighted  up  with  dee])  but  quiet  joy; 
middle-aged  men  and  women,  of  every  grade  of  color 
possible  to  Southern  civilization,  the  latter  decorated 
with  bandanas  and  turbans  of  flashy  colors;  comely  and 
buxom  girls  attired  in  neat  chintz  ;  cadaverous  and 
ragged  beings  holding  about  them  their  tattered  gar- 
ments; boys  and  girls  whose  jubilation  exhibited  itself 
in  the  most  astonishing  display  of  ivory ; — all  huddled 
together  like  sheep  in  a  pen,  hanging  over  the  gun- 
wales, mounted  on  the  posts,  doubled  up  in  furtive 
corners,  peering  through  the  gangways,  darkening  the 
wheel-house,  upon  the  top  of  which  stood  Eobert  Small, 
a  prince  among  them,  self-possessed,  prompt  and  proud, 
giving  his  orders  to  the  helmsman  in  ringing  tones  of 
command. 

An  unaccountable  delay  occurred  in  the  starting  of 
the  "  Golden  Gate."  But  we  allayed  our  impatience  by 
studying  and  enjoying  the  splendid  spectacular  drama 
now  being  enacted  in  the  harbor.  Guns  were  booming, 
bells  ringing,  bands  playing  the  most  enlivening  patri- 
otic airs,  men  and  women  were  cheering  and  singing, 
while  we  awaited  our  sailing  orders  from  the  captain. 
A  stiff  breeze  was  blowing  from  the  westward,  throwing 
up  the  white  caps,  and  fluttering  into  cheerful  music 
the  folds  of  the  innumerable  flags.  The  wharves  on 
every  side  were  crowded  with  eager  witnesses.  At 
length  the  wheels  moved,  and  we  passed  through  the 
midst  of  the  anchored  fleet,  upon  one  of  which  we 
counted  over  three  hundred  signals  aiid  banners,  over  all 


& 


:^$$; 


i'i; 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANIA.  (r5 

of  which,  wherever  displayed,  waved  the  unapproachably 
beautiful    and    ever  superior  flag  of  "  Stripes  and  Stars." 

For  half  an  liour  or  more,  we  lay  rocking  upon  the 
swell,  while  one  and  another  transport  landed  its  load 
at  the  dock  of  the  fort.  We  passed  the  time  in  study- 
ing the  storied  old  ruin.  A  ruin  it  is,  though  not  so 
utter,  as  the  imaginations  of  some  artists  have  depicted 
it.  It  is  built  externally  of  brick,  and  filled  in  with 
stone,  sand  and  earth.  The  walls  are  deeply  indented 
by  the  shot  hurled  against  it;  the  top  lines  are  uneven, 
and  in  some  parts  battered  half  way  down  towards  the 
foundation.  As  it  was  terribly  bombarded,  while  in 
Rebel  possession,  and  its  walls  gave  way  by  day,  by 
night  the  Rebels  piled  cylindrical  baskets  filled  with 
sand  in  all  the  chasms,  and  now  they  rise  in  rows  or 
layers  six  or  seven  deep,  nearly  to  the  original  height. 
The  casemates  are  filled  with  the  broken  stone  and 
brick,  and  the  most  of  the  port-holes  closed.  Around 
it,  upon  the  rocks,  is  a  stratum  of  balls,  exploded  shells 
and  comminuted  brick,  to  the  depth  of  several  inches. 

The  signal  being  given  for  the  u  Golden  Gate"  to  ap- 
proach, in  five  minutes  we  are  at  the  landing;  the  same 
at  which  Wigfall,  the  self-appointed  commissioner  to 
propose  terms  to  Major  Anderson,  landed  in  1861,  from 
a  row-boat.  On  either  side  of  the  platform,  upon  which 
we  debark,  was  a  company  of  soldiers,  with  muskets 
shouldered  and  bayonets  lixed — on  the  left,  white,  on 
the  right,  black,  rivalling  each  other  in  soldierly  bear- 
ing.    We  ascended  to  the  top  of  the  wall,  by  a  night  of 


4tf 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 


fifty  steps,  passed  under  an  arbor  entrance  of  ever- 
greens, walked  across  about  thirty  feet  of  earth  and 
sand,  and  lo !  the  interior  of  the  glorious  old  fort  ap- 
pears in  view  —  glorious  yet,  though  in  ruins.  Im- 
mediately in  the  centre  was  the  new  flag-staff,  sur- 
mounted by  circular  terraces  of  grass,  and  these  sur- 
mounted by  immense  conical  shot  and  shell,  planted 
with  the  points  upward.  Before  the  flag-staff,  was  a 
large  platform  carpeted  with  myrtle,  mock-orange,  and 
evergreen  boughs,  the  railings  festooned  and  twined 
with  the  same.  Four  pillars,  fifteen  feet  in  height,  rose 
from  the  corners  of  the  platform,  wound  with  the 
national  colors,  and  knotted  with  orange  wreaths,  while 
from  their  tops,  graceful  arches  were  sprung,  terminat- 
ing together  in  the  centre.  Upon  the  very  apex  was 
a  golden  eagle,  standing  upon  the  flying  flag.  Rows  of 
substantial  seats  surrounded  the  platform,  which  we 
found  already  nearly  tilled.  The  interior  of  the  fort 
presented  the  appearance  of  a  huge  earthwork,  for  as 
the  sides  were  slowly  demolished,  the  shattered  stones 
and  sand  fell  down  in  slanting  grade  towards  the  cen- 
tre, and  now  remain  as  they  were  found.  Surmount- 
ing the  parapet  towards  Charleston  were  six  large  guns, 
ready  for  the  grand  salute.  The  crowd  now  gathered 
densely,  but  were  admirably  disposed  and  managed  by 
Col.  Stuart  L.  Woodford,  who  was  in  charge  of  the 
exercises   of  the  day. 

While   waiting    for    the    arrival   of  the    orator   of    the 
day  with  his  party,  the  flag   of  the  "  Planter "  was  seen 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEAN  US. 


47 


above  the  parapet,  slowly  waving  towards  the  landing, 
-and    was  greeted  with   cheers. 

Mr.  Win.  B.  Bradbury,  taking  a  position  at  the 
foot  of  the  flag-staff,  then  led  the  whole  multitude  in 
singing  his  resounding  song,  "  Victory  at  Last"  which 
was   followed    by    "  Bally  Bound  the  Flag." 

A  few  minutes  later,  the  passengers  from  the  "  Arago  " 
were  brought  to  the  landing,  by  the  "Delaware,"  and 
were  seen  crossing  the  sandy  parapet  and  descending 
the  stairway,  into  the  fort.  As  one  and  another  fa- 
miliar face  was  discovered,  signs  of  recognition  were 
given,  breaking  out,  in  two  or  three  instances,  into 
ringing   cheers. 

Upon  the  platform,  salutations  were  exchanged  for 
a  few  moments ;  and,  all  preliminaries  having  been 
duly  arranged,  the  exercises  of  the  day  were  begun 
and  carried  forward  according  to  the  pre-arranged 
programme,    as   will  now    be   set   forth. 

Breathless  was  the  attention  with  which  the  vener- 
able man    was  received,    who   was   to    offer   the 

X.  Jtttr0imct0rg  |)ntg£r. 

Rev.  Matthias  Harris,  Chaplain  U.  S.  Army,  who  made  the 
prayer  at  the  raising  of  the  Flag,  when  Major  Anderson  re- 
moved his  command  to  Fort  Sumter,  Dec.  27,  1800,  now  stepped 
slowly  to  the  front  of  the  platform,  uncovered  his  head,  silvered 
with  age,  and  while  his  thin  locks  streamed  in  the  wind,  read  a 
brief,  but  appropriate  prayer,  with  trembling  voice,  which  he 
closed  with  much  emotion,  pronouncing  a  blessing  upon  the  flag 
of  his  fathers. 


4S 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEAN US. 


Rev.  R.  S.  Storrs,  Jr.,  D.  I).,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  then  ad 
vanced,  and  with  sonorous  and  solemn  voice,  read  the  following: 

2.  Selection  from   tljc   psalms. 

(The  assembly  making  the  responses.) 
Psalm   126. 

1.  When  the  Lord  turned  again  the  captivity  of  Zion,  we 
were  like  them  that  dream. 

2.  Then  was  our  mouth  tilled  with  laughter  and  our  tongue 
with  singing  :  then  said  they  among  the  heathen,  The  Lord  hath 
done  great  things  for  them. 

3.  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are 
glad. 

4.  Turn  again  our  captivity,  O  Lord,  as  the  streams  in  the 
south. 

5.  They  that  sow  in  tears,  shall  reap  in  joy. 

6.  He  that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed, 
shall  doubtless   come   again    with  rejoicing,  bringing  his  sheaves 

with  him. 

Psalm  47. 

1.  O  clap  your  hands  ;  all  ye  people,  shout  unto  God  with  the 
voice  of  triumph. 

2.  For  the  Lord  most  high  is  terrible;  he  is  a  great  King 
above  all  the  earth. 

3.  He  shall  subdue  the  people  under  us,  and  the  nations  under 
our  feet. 

4.  He  shall  choose  our  inheritance  tor  us,  the  excellency  of 
Jacob  whom  he  loved. 

5.  God  is  gone  up  witli  a  shout,  the  Lord  with  the  sound  of  a 
trumpet. 

6.  Sing  praises  to  God,  sing  praises;  sing  praises  unto  our 
King,  sing  praises. 

7.  For  God  is  the  King  of  all  the  earth  ;  sing  ye  praises  with 
understanding. 

8.  God  reigneth  over  the  heathen ;  God  sitteth  upon  the 
throne  of  his  holiness. 


TRIP    OF    THE    OORANUS.  49 

9.  The  princes  of  the  people  are  gathered  together,  even  the 
people  of  the  God  of  Abraham  ;  for  the  shields  of  the  earth  he- 
long  unto  God  :   He  is  greatly  exalted. 

Psalm   98. 

1.  0  sing  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song:  for  he  hath  done  marvel- 
ous things:  his  right  hand  and  his  holy  arm  hath  gotten  him  the 
victory. 

2.  The  Lord  hath  made  known  his  salvation  :  his  righteousness 
hath  he  openly  shewed  in  the  sight  of  the  heathen. 

3.  He  hath  remembered  his  mercy  and  truth  toward  the  House 
of  Israel  :  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  have  seen  the  salvation  of  our 
God. 

4.  Make  a  joyful  noise  unto  the  Lord,  all  the  earth:  make  a 
loud  noise  and  rejoice  and  sing  praises. 

5.  Sing  unto  the  Lord  with  the  harp:  with  the  harp  and  the 
voice  of  a  psalm. 

t>.  With  trumpets  and  sound  of  cornet,  make  a  joyful  noise  be- 
fore the  Lord,  the  King. 

7.  Let  the  sea  roar  and  the  fulness  thereof:  the  world  and  they 
that  dwell  therein. 

8.  Let  the  floods  clap  their  hands:  let  the  hills  be  joyful  to- 
gether 

9.  Before  the  Lord:  for  he  cometh  to  judge  the  earth:  with 
righteousness  shall  he  judge  the  world  and  the  people  with  equity. 

Part  ok  Psalm  20. 
(Read  by  Minister  and  people  together.) 
Some  trust  in  chariots,  and  some  in  horses,  but  we  will  remem- 
ber the  Name  of  the  Lord  our  God. 

We  will  rejoice  in  Thy  salvation,  and  in  the  Name  of  our  God, 

WE    WILL    SET    UP    OUR    BANNERS  ! 

Minister — Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the 
Holy  Ghost  : 

Answer — As  it  was  in  the  beginning,  is  now.  and  ever  shall  be, 
world  without  end.      Amen. 


50  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

to  the  Government,  dated  Steamship  Baltic,  off  Sandy  Hook, 
April  18,  1861,  announcing  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter,  was  read  by 
Brevet  Brigadier-General  E.  D.  Townsend,  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General,  U.  S.  A. 

4.  "  Raising  and  planting  upon  the  ruins  of  Fort  Sumter 
the  SAME  United  States  Flag  which  floated  over  the  battle- 
ments of  the  Fort  during  the  rebel  assault,  April  14,  1861,  by 
Brevet  Major-General  Robert  Anderson,  U.  S.  A.  As  soon  as 
the  flag  is  raised,  a  salute  of  one  hundred  guns  will  be  fired  from 
Fort  Sumter,  and  a  national  salute  from  every  fort  and  rebel 
battery  that  fired  upon  Fort  Sumter.  The  band  will  play  national 
airs." 

Thus  it  was  announced  upon  the  programme  for  the 
day. 

But  Heaven  forbid  that  we  should  pass  this  wonder- 
ful,  soul-thrilling  event,   without  more  extended  notice  ! 

As  soon  as  Gen.  Townsend  had  finished  reading 
Major  Anderson's  Despatch,  Sergeant  Hart  brought 
forward  a  new  mail-bag,  which  contained  the  original 
nag.  The  first  glimpse  of  the  precious  emblem,  as  it 
came  forth  to  the  light  once  more  from  its  long  and 
carefully  guarded  seclusion,  was  the  signal  for  the 
most  tumultuous  cheers.  It  was  made  fast  to  the 
halyards  by  three  of  the  crew  of  the  "  Juniata,"  with  a 
beautiful  wreath  of  evergreens,  thickly  studded  with 
roses  and   blossoms   of    the  mock-orange,   just  above  it. 

General  Anderson  stood  by  it  upon  the  terrace. 
Commingled  joy  and  sadness  struggled  upon  his  manly 
face.  His  hair,  thickly  sprinkled  with  grey,  was 
stirred    by   the     winds    upon     his    uncovered    head.     His 


TRIP   OF   THE    OCEAN  US.  51 

erect,  soldierly  form  was  the  centre  of  every  gaze. 
For  a  moment,  he  spoke  not.  Tie  seemed  wrestling 
with  intense  emotion,  as  if  living  over  again,  in  that 
moment,  the  terrible  scenes  of  four  years  before,  and 
as  if  conscious  that  through  the  ten  thousand  eyes  of 
that  vast  assemblage,  the  whole  nation  was  looking 
at  him.  At  length,  with  subdued  voice  and  scarcely 
mastered   emotion,   he  spoke    as   follows : 

"  I  am  here  ray  friends,  my  fellow-citizens,  and  fel- 
low soldiers,  to  perform  an  act  of  duty  to  my  conn- 
try  dear  to  my  heart,  and  which  all  of  you  will  ap- 
preciate  and  feel.  Had  I  observed  the  wishes  of  my 
heart,  it  should  have  been  done  in  silence :  but  in 
accordance  with  the  request  of  the  Honorable  Secre- 
tary of  War,  I  make  a  few  remarks,  as  by  his  order, 
after  four  long,  long  years  of  war,  I  restore  to  its 
proper  place  this  nag  which  floated  here  during  peace, 
before  the  first  act  of  this  cruel  Eebellion.  (Here 
taking  the  halyards  in  his  hands,  he  proceeded.)  I 
thank  God  that  I  have  lived  to  see  this  day,  and 
to  be  here  to  perform  this,  perhaps  the  last  act  of  my 
life,    of    duty   to   my   country. 

u  I  thank  God  who  has  so  signally  blessed  us,  who 
lias  blessed  us  beyond  measure.  May  all  the  nations 
bless  and  praise  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  proclaim 
•  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace, 
good    will   towards    men.' " 

As  the  voice  of  the  General,  the  hero  of  the  hour 
was    borne     away     upon    the     air,     he    grasped    the   hal- 


f 
52  TRIP    OF    THE    OOEANUS. 

yards,  and  with  strong  and  steady  pull,  lifted  the 
nation's  symbol  from  the  green  turf,  and  as  the  old 
smoke-stained,  shot-pierced  nag,  with  not  a  single  star 
smitten  or  effaced  from  its  fold  of  blue,  rose  slowly 
upward  to  its  native  air,  and  its  folds  were  caught  by 
the  ocean  breeze  as  in  joyous  welcome  again,  the 
whole  multitude,  citizens,  soldiers,  officers,  that  tilled 
the  interior,  and  sat  upon  the  sandy  slopes  and  para- 
pet of  the  fort,  by  a  spontaneous  and  irrepressible 
impulse,  rose  to  their  feet,  waived  hats  and  handker- 
chiefs with  frantic  exultation  above  their  heads,  and 
with  one  long,  pealing,  deafening,  ecxtatic  shout  of 
triumph  hailed  the  dear  flag  until  it  touched  the 
peak.  Senators,  Generals,  Clergymen,  Editors  and 
Civilians  upon  the  platform,  to  whom  the  end  of  the 
halyards  whs  passed,  surged  away  upon  it  as  though 
their  hands  alone  were  lifting  "Old  Glory"  to  it  place. 
The  excited  multitude  wrung  each  other's  hands  in 
joy,  huzzahed  until  they  were  hoarse,  wept  and  laughed 
by    turns,    and    when    the    song    broke  forth, 

"  The  star-spangled  banner,  O  long  may  it  wave ! 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free,  and  the  home  of  the  brave  !" 

tears  of  gladness  filled  every  eye,  and  flowed  down 
cheeks  unused  to  weeping,  and  in  the  seething  jubi- 
lant throng  and  melting  weltering  chorus  of  five  thous- 
and voices,  we  seemed  to  discover  no  inapt  type 
and  foreshadowing  of  the  vast  multitude  which  shall 
stand  upon  the  sea  of  glass,  having  the  harps  of  God, 
and    singing    '<  Great    and    marvellous    are    thy    works. 


THE    RAISING    OF    THE    FLAG. 


TRIP    OF   THE   OCEANUS.  53 

Lord  God  Almighty ;  just  and  true  are  thy  ways, 
thou    King   of  Saints  !" 

And  the  flag  itself,  as  if  true  to  its  instincts  and 
mission,  flung  its  emblematic  folds  directly  over  the 
waters  of  the  harbor,  and  towards  the  conquered  city 
of  Charleston.  That  cradle  of  the  Kebellion  cannot 
escape  the  domination  of  the  "  flag  of  the  free  heart's 
hope   and  home !" 

The  instant  the  banner  touched  the  peak,  the  six 
guns  upon  the  parapet  of  Sumter,  looking  towards 
Charleston,    pealed   forth    their   detonations. 

Then,  answering,  from  all  the  surrounding  fortifica- 
tions— Forts  Moultrie,  Ripley,  Pinckney,  Putnam,  Johnson, 
Cumming's  Point,  Battery  Bee  —  from  every  battery 
that  took  part  in  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter 
in  1861,  and  from  all  the  vessels  of  war  in  the 
harbor,  came  the  thunder  of  mighty  cannon,  in  na- 
tional salute,  until  the  "earth  shook  and  trembled," 
and  the  air  grew  dark  with  the  gathering  clouds  of 
smoke  which  rolled  their  dun  and  murky  volume  over 
the  harbor,  shutting  out  from  sight  at  length  the 
city,    and    the   lightning  flash    of  the    cannonade. 

There  was  a  general  stampede  from  the  interior,  to 
the  walls  of  the  fort,  that  the  sense  of  sight  as  well 
as  of  hearing,  might  be  gratified.  Those  who  were 
first  upon  this  outlook  describe  the  cordon  of  fire  by 
which  they  were  surrounded  as  something  startlingly 
magnificent.  But  those  who  reached  the  parapet  later 
returned    disappointed,     for     it     was    only    like    looking 


54  TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS. 

into  a  bank  of  fog,  and  the  sand,  stirred  up  by  the 
recoil  of  Fort  Sumter's  guns,  was  driven  into  their 
eyes  in  blinding  clouds.  They  were  glad  to  resume 
their  seats,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  salute,  which 
lasted  about  half  an  hour,  compose  themselves  to  lis- 
ten   to   the   next   grand   exercise    upon   the   programme. 

6.  C!k  ^bir«ss,  bg  %  ieij.  IJmrg  Math  $ntbtx. 

As  Mr.  Beecher  came  forward  upon  the  platform, 
he  was  greeted  with  a  round  of  cheers.  This  Rev. 
gentleman,  who  has  contended  with  foemen  of  almost 
every  kind,  found  two  antagonists  awaiting  him, 
which,  with  his  usual  dexterity,  he  baffled  upon  this 
occasion.  These  were  his  manuscript,  in  detached 
leaves,  and  a  strong  northwesterly  wind.  At  first 
onset,  he  removed  his  grey  felt  hat  from  his  head, 
and  held  his  mss.  in  his  left  hand.  But  the  indis- 
criminate wind  toyed  so  familiarly  with  his  iron-grey 
ear-locks,  and  played  such  fantasias  upon  the  thin 
leaves  of  his  address,  that  he  placed  his  errant  locks 
again  in  confinement,  and  addressed  himself  with  both 
hands   to  his  refractory  documents.     He   had   conquered. 

Mr.  Beecher  read  his  entire  oration,  pausing  once 
midway,  to  rest  his  overtaxed  voice,  while  the  band 
played    a   patriotic   air. 

The  address  was  carefully  composed,  and  thoroughly 
considered.  Clearness  and  force  marked  all  its  periods. 
The  principles  laid  down  were  emphatic,  and  almost 
exhaustive.     The  policy  of  the  Government  was  sharply 


TBEP   OF   THE    OCEANUS.  55 

defined,  and  the  feeling  of  the  people  faithfully  re- 
presented. 

In  delivery,  it  lacked  the  peculiar  magnetism  of  his 
less  studied  efforts,  but  his  decision  to  commit  all  his 
thoughts  to  paper,  commended  itself  to  every  better 
judgment.  From  beginning  to  end,  he  seemed  deeply 
impressed  with  the  consciousness  that  he  was  speaking, 
at  least,  semi-omcially,  and  that  his  utterances  would 
be  regarded,  not  only  as  the  voice  of  the  authorities 
at  the  Capital,  and  of  all  the  nation,  but  would  pass 
from  that  hour  into  history.  But  as  a  verbatim  re- 
port of  the  entire  address  is  here  introduced,  every 
reader  of  this  volume  may  become  his  own  commentator. 

It  has  already  been  widely  circulated,  and  universally 
read,  and  is  included  within  these  pages,  not  to  give 
to  it  publicity,  but  that  they  may  have,  at  least,  one 
adornment,  and  because  their  humble  record  would  be 
sadly  incomplete   without  it. 

THE     ADDRESS. 

On  this  solemn  and  joyful  day,  we  again  lift  to  the  breeze, 
our  father's  flag,  now,  again,  the  banner  of  the  United  States, 
with  the  fervent  prayer  that  God  would  crown  it  with  honor, 
protect  it  from  treason,  and  send  it  down  to  our  children,  with  all 
the  blessings  of  civilization,  liberty  and  religion.  Terrible 
in  battle,  may  it  be  beneficent  in  peace.  Happily,  no  bird 
or  beast  of  prey  has  been  inscribed  upon  it.  The  stars  that 
redeem  the  night  from  darkness,  and  the  beams  of  red  light 
that  beautify  the  morning,  have  been  united  upon  its  folds. 
As  long  as  the  sun  endures,  or  the  stars,  may  it  wave  over 
a  nation  neither  enslaved  nor  enslaving.  (Great  applause.) 
Once,  and  but  once,  has  treason  dishonored  it.     In  that  insane 


56 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 


hour,  when  the  guiltiest  and  bloodiest  rebellion  of  time  hurled 
their  fires  upon  this  fort,  you,  sir,  (turning  to  General  Ander- 
son) and  a  small  heroic  band,  stood  within  these  now  crumb- 
led walls,  and  did  gallant  and  just  battle  for  the  honor  and 
defence   of  the  nation's  banner.     (Applause.) 

In  that  cope  of  fire  this  glorious  flag  still  peacefully  waved 
to  the  breeze  above  your  head,  unconscious  of  harm  as  the 
stars  and  skies  above  it.  Once  it  was  shot  down.  A  gallant 
hand,  in  whose  care  this  day  it  has  been,  plucked  it  from 
the  ground,  and  reared  it  again, — "cast  down  but  not  destroy- 
ed." After  a  vain  resistance,  with  trembling  hand  and  sad 
heart,  you  withdrew  it  from  its  height,  closed  its  wings,  and 
bore  it  far  away,  sternly  to  sleep  amid  the  tumults  of  rebel- 
lion and  the  thunder  of  battle.  The  first  act  of  war  had 
begun.  The  long  night  of  four  years  had  set  in.  While  the 
giddy  traitors  whirled  in  a  maze  of  exhileration,  dim  hor- 
rors were  already  advancing,  that  were  ere  long  to  fill  the  lar.d 
with  blood. 

To-day  you  are  returned  again.  We  devoutly  join  with  you 
in  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God,  that  he  has  spared  your 
honored  life,  and  vouchsafed  you  the  honors  of  this  day.  The 
heavens  over  you  are  the  same;  the  same  shores  ;  morning 
comes,  and  evening,  as  they  did.  All  else,  how  changed  ! 
What  grim  batteries  crowd  the  burdened  shores !  What 
scenes  have  filled  this  air  and  disturbed  these  waters  !  These 
shattered  heaps  of  shapeless  stone  are  all  that  is  left  of  Fort 
Sumter.  Desolation  broods  in  yonder  sad  city — solemn  retri- 
bution hath  avenged  our  dishonored  banner !  You  have  come 
back  with  honor,  who  departed  hence,  four  years  ago,  leaving 
the  air  sultry  with  fanaticism.  The  surging  crowds  that  roll- 
ed up  their  frenzied  shouts,  as  the  flag  came  down,  are  dead, 
or  scattered,  or  silent;  and  their  habitations  are  desolate.  Ruin 
sits  in  the  cradle  of  treason.  Rebellion  has  perished.  But,  there 
flies  the  same  flag  that  was  insulted.  (Great  and  prolonged  ap- 
plause.) With  starry  eyes  it  looks  all  over  this  bay  for  that  ban- 
ner that  supplanted  it,  and  sees  it  not.     (Applause.)     You  that 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  57 

then,  for  the  day,  were  humbled,  are  here  agam,  to  triumph  once 
and  forever.  (Applause.)  fn  the  storm  of  that  assault  this  glori- 
ous ensign  was  often  struck  ;  but,  memorable  fact,  not  one  of  its 
stars  was  torn  out,  by  shot  or  shell.  (Applause.)  It  was  a  pro- 
phecy . 

It  said :  "  Not  one  State  shall  be  struck  from  this  nation  by 
treason  !"  (Applause.)  The  fulfillment  is  at  hand.  Lifted  to 
the  air,  to-day,  it  proclaims,  after  four  years  of  war,  "Not  a  State 
is  blotted  out !"     (Applause.) 

Hail  to  the  flag  of  our  fathers,  and  our  flag  !  Glory  to  the  ban- 
ner that  has  gone  through  four  years  black  with  tempests  of  war, 
to  pilot  the  nation  back  to  peace  without  dismemberment !  And 
glory  be  to  God,  who,  above  all  hosts  and  banners,  hath  ordained 
victory,  and  shall  ordain  peace  !     (Applause.) 

Wherefore  have  we  come  hither,  pilgrims  from  distant  places  ? 
Are  we  come  to  exult  that  Northern  hands  are  stronger  than 
Southern?  No,  but  to  rejoice  that  the  hands  of  those  who  defend 
a  just  and  beneficent  government  are  mightier  than  the  hands  that 
assaulted  it !  (Applause.)  Do  we  exult  over  fallen  cities?  We 
exult  that  a  Nation  has  not  fallen.  (Applause.)  We  sorrow  with 
the  sorrowful.  We  sympathize  with  the  desolate.  We  look  upon 
this  shattered  fort,  and  yonder  dilapidated  city,  with  sad  eyes, 
grieved  that  men  should  have  committed  such  treason,  and  glad 
that  God  hath  set  such  a  mark  upon  treason  that  all  ages  shall 
dread  and  abhor  it.     (Applause.) 

We  exult,  not  for  a  passion  gratified,  but  for  a  sentiment  victo- 
rious ;  not  for  temper,  but  for  conscience  ;  not  as  we  devoutly 
believe  that  our  will  is  done,  but  that  God's  will  hath  been  done. 
We  should  be  unworthy  of  that  liberty  entrusted  to  our  care,  if, 
on  a  such  a  day  as  this,  we  sullied  our  hearts  by  feelings  of 
aimless  vengeance  ;  and  equally  unworthy,  if  we  did  not  devout- 
ly thank  Him  who  hath  said,  Vengeance  is  mine,  I  will  repay, 
saith  the  Lord,  that  he  hath  set  a  mark  upon  arrogant  Rebellion, 
ineffaceable  while  time  lasts  ! 

Since  this  flag  went  down  on  that  dark  day,  who  shall  tell  the 
mighty  woes  that  have  made  this  land  a  spectacle    to  angels  and 


58  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

men  ?  The  soil  has  drunk  blood,  and  is  glutted.  Millions  mourn 
for  millions  slain;  or,  envying  the  dead,  pray  for  oblivion.  Towns 
and  villages  have  been  razed.  Fruitful  fields  have  turned  back  to 
wilderness.  It  came  to  pass,  as  the  prophet  said  :  The  sun  was 
turned  to  darkness,  and  the  moon  to  blood.  The  course  of  law  was 
ended.  The  sword  sat  chief  magistrate  in  half  the  nation  ;  indus- 
try was  paralyzed  ;  morals  corrupted  ;  the  public  weal  invaded 
by  rapine  and  anarchy  ;  whole  States  ravaged  by  avenging 
armies.  The  world  was  amazed.  The  earth  reeled.  When  the 
flag  sank  here,  it  was  as  if  political  night  had  come,  and  all  beasts 
of  prey  had  come  forth  to  devour. 

That  long  night  is  ended  !  And  for  this  returning  day  we  have 
come  from  afar,  to  rejoice  and  give  thanks.  No  more  war !  No 
more  accursed  secession  !  No  more  slavery,  that  spawned  them 
both !     (Great  applause.) 

Let  no  man  misread  the  meaning  of  this  unfolding  flag !  It 
says,  "  Government  hath  returned  hither."  It  proclaims  in  the 
name  of  vindicated  government,  peace  and  protection  to  loyalty  ; 
humiliation  and  pains  to  traitors.  This  is  the  flag  of  sovereignty. 
The  nation,  not  the  States,  is  sovereign.  Restored  to  authority, 
this  flag  commands,  not  supplicates. 

There  may  be  pardon,  but  no  concession.  (Great  applause.) 
There  may  be  amnesty  and  oblivion,  but  no  honied  compromises. 
(Applause.)  The  nation  to-day  has  peace  for  the  peaceful,  and 
war  for  the  turbulent.  (Applause.)  The  only  condition  of  sub- 
mission, is,  to  submit!  (Laughter  and  applause.)  There  is  the 
Constitution,  there  are  the  laws,  there  is  the  Government.  They 
rise  up  like  mountains  of  strength  that  shall  not  be  moved.  They 
are  the  conditions  of  peace. 

One  nation,  under  one  government,  without  slavery,  has  been 
ordained,  and  shall  stand.  There  can  be  peace  on  no  other  basis. 
On  this  basis  reconstruction  is  easy,  and  needs  neither  archi- 
tect or  engineer.  Without  this  basis  no  engineer  or  architect 
shall  ever  reconstruct  these  rebellious  States. 

We  do  not  want  your  cities  nor  your  fields.  We  do  not  envy 
you  your  prolific  soil,  nor  heavens  full  of  perpetual  summer.     Let 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  59 

agriculture  revel  here  ;  let  manufactures  make  every  stream 
twice  musical  ;  build  fleets  in  every  port  ;  inspire  the  arts  of 
peace  with  genius  second  only  to  that  of  Athens  ;  and  we  shall 
be  glad  in  your  gladness,  and  rich  in  your  wealth. 

All  that  we  ask  is  unswerving  loyalty,  and  universal  liberty. 
(Applause.)  And  that,  in  the  name  of  this  high  sovereignty  of 
the  United  States  of  America,  we  demand  ;  and  that,  with  the 
blessing  of  Almighty  God,  we  will  have  !     (Great  applause.) 

We  raise  our  Father's  banner  that  it  may  bring  back  better 
blessings  than  those  of  old  ;  that  it  may  cast  out  the  devil  of  dis- 
cord ;  that  it  may  restore  lawful  government,  and  a  prosperity 
purer  and  more  enduring  than  that  which  it  protected  before  ; 
that  it  may  win  parted  friends  from  their  alienation ;  that  it  may 
inspire  hope,  and  inaugurate  universal  liberty ;  that  it  may  say  to 
the  sword,  "  Return  to  thy  sheath"  and  to  the  plow  and  sickle, 
"  Go  forth  ;"  that  it  may  heal  all  jealousies,  unite  all  policies,  in- 
spire a  new  national  life,  compact  our  strength,  purify  our  princi- 
ples, ennoble  our  national  ambitions,  and  make  this  people  great 
and  strong,  not  for  aggression  and  quarrelsomeness,  but  for  the 
peace  of  the  world,  giving  to  us  the  glorious  prerogative  of  leading 
all  nations  to  juster  laws,  to  more  humane  policies,  to  sincerer 
friendship,  to  rational,  instituted  civil  liberty,  and  to  universal 
Christian  brotherhood. 

Reverently,  piously,  in  hopeful  patriotism,  we  spread  this  ban- 
ner on  the  sky,  as  of  old  the  bow  was  planted  on  the  cloud ;  and, 
with  solemn  fervor,  beseech  God  to  look  upon  it,  and  make  it  the 
memorial  of  an  everlasting  covenant  and  decree,  that  never  again 
on  this  fair  land  shall  a  deluge  of  blood  prevail.     (Applause.) 

Why  need  any  eye  turn  from  this  spectacle  ?  Are  there  not 
associations  which,  overleaping  the  recent  past,  carry  us  back  to 
times  when,  over  North  and  South,  this  flag  was  honored  alike  by 
all?  In  all  our  colonial  days,  we  were  one  ;  in  the  long  Revolu- 
tionary struggle ;  and  in  the  scores  of  prosperous  years  succeed- 
ing. When  the  passage  of  the  Stamp  Act  in  1765  aroused  the 
colonies,  it  was  Gadsden  of  South  Carolina  that  cried  with  presci- 
ent enthusiasm :     "  We  stand   on    the    broad   common   ground  of 


60  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

those  natural  rights  that  we  all  feel  and  know  as  men.  There 
ought  to  be  no  New  England  man,  no  New  Yorker,  known  on 
this  continent,  but  all  of  us,"  said  he,  "  Americans."  That  was 
the  voice  of  South  Carolina.  That  shall  be  the  voice  of  South 
Carolina.  Faint  is  the  echo  ;  but  it  is  coming.  We  now  hear  it 
sighing  sadly  through  the  pines  ;  but  it  shall  yet  break  upon  the 
shore — no  North,  no  West,  no  South,  but  one  United  States  of 
America.     (Applause.) 

There  is  scarcely  a  man  born  in  the  South  who  has  lifted  his 
hand  against  this  banner,  but  had  a  father  who  would  have  died 
for  it.  Is  memory  dead?  Is  there  no  historic  pride?  Has  a 
fatal  fury  struck  blindness  or  hate  into  eyes  that  used  to  look 
kindly  toward  each  other ;  that  read  the  same  Bible  ;  that  hung 
over  the  same  historic  pages  of  our  national  glory  ;  that  studied 
the  same  Constitution  ? 

Let  this  uplifting  bring  back  all  of  the  past  that  was  good,  but 
leave  in  darkness  all  that  was  bad. 

It  was  never  before  so  wholly  unspotted;  so  clear  of  all  wrong; 
so  purely  and  simply  the  sign  of  Justice  and  Liberty.  Did  I  say 
that  we  brought  back  the  same  banner  that  you  bore  away,  noble 
and  heroic  sir?  It  is  not  the  same.  It  is  more  and  better  than  it 
was.     The  land  is  free  from  slavery,  since  that  banner  fell. 

When  God  would  prepare  Moses  for  Emancipation,  he  over- 
threw his  first  steps,  and  drove  him  for  forty  years  to  brood  in 
the  wilderness.  When  our  flag  came  down,  four  years  it  lay 
brooding  in  darkness.  It  cried  to  the  Lord,  "  Wherefore  am  I 
deposed  ?"  Then  arose  before  it  a  vision  of  its  sin.  It  had 
strengthened  the  strong,  and  forgotten  the  weak.  It  proclaimed 
liberty,  but  trod  upon  slaves. 

In  that  seclusion  it  dedicated  itself  to  liberty.  Behold,  to-day, 
it  fulfills  its  vows?  When  it  went  down  four  million  people  had 
no  flag.  To-day  it  rises,  and  four  million  people  cry  out,  "  Be- 
hold our  flag  ?"  Hark !  they  murmur.  It  is  the  Gospel  that 
they  recite  in  sacred  words ;  "  It  is  a  Gospel  to  the  poor,  it  heals 
our  broken  hearts,  it  preaches  deliverance  to  captives,  it  gives 
sight  to  the  blind,  it  sets  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised."     Rise 


TRIP  OF  thp:  oceanus.  61 

up,  then,  glorious  Gospel  Banner,  and  roll  out  these  messages  of 
God.  Tell  the  air  that  not  a  spot  now  sullies  thy  whiteness. 
Thy  red  is  not  the  blush  of  shame,  but  the  flush  of  joy.  Tell  the 
dews  that  wash  thee  that  thou  art  pure  as  they.  Say  to  the  night, 
that  thy  stars  lead  toward  the  morning ;  and  to  the  morning,  that 
a  brighter  day  arises  with  healing  in  its  wings.  And  then,  oh 
glorious  flag,  bid  the  sun  pour  light  on  all  thy  folds  with  double 
brightness,  whilst  thou  art  bearing  around  and  round  the  world 
the  solemn  joy — a  race  set  free !  a  nation  redeemed  ! 

The  mighty  hand  of  Government,  made  strong  in  war,  by  the 
favor  of  the  God  of  Battles,  spreads  wide  to-day  the  banner  of 
liberty  that  went  down  in  darkness,  that  arose  in  light ;  and  there 
it  streams,  like  the  sun  above  it,  neither  parceled  out  nor  monopo- 
lized, but  flooding  the  air  with  light  for  all  mankind.  Ye  scatter- 
ed and  broken,  ye  wounded  and  dying,  bitten  by  the  fiery  ser- 
pents of  oppression,  everywhere,  in  all  the  world,  look  upon  this 
sign,  lifted  up,  and  live.  And  ye  homeless  and  houseless  slaves, 
look,  and  ye  are  free.  At  length  you,  too,  have  part  and  lot  in 
this  glorious  ensign,  that  broods  with  impartial  love  over  small 
and  great,  the  poor  and  the  strong,  the  bond  and  the  free. 

In  this  solemn  hour,  let  us  pray  for  the  quick  coming  of  recon- 
ciliation and  happiness,  under  this  common  flag! 

But,  we  must  build  again,  from  the  foundations,  in  all  these 
now  free  Southern  States.  No  cheap  exhortation  "  to  forgetful- 
ness  of  the  past,  to  restore  all  things  as  they  were,"  will  do. 
God  does  not  stretch  out  his  hand,  as  he  has  for  four  dreadful 
years,  that  men  may  easily  forget  the  might  of  his  terrible  acts. 
Restore  things  as  they  were?  What,  the  alienations  and  jeal- 
ousies? The  discords  and  contentions,  and  the  causes  of  them? 
No.  In  that  solemn  sacrifice  on  which  a  nation  has  offered  up 
for  its  sins  so  many  precious  victims,  loved  and  lamented,  let  our 
sins  and  mistakes  be  consumed  utterly  and  forever. 

No,  never  again  shall  things  be  restored  as  before  the  war.  It 
is  written  in  God's  decree  of  events  fulfilled,  "  Old  things  are  pass- 
ed away."  That  new  earth,  in  which  dwelleth  righteousness, 
draws  near. 


62  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

Things  as  they  were  ?  Who  has  an  omnipotent  hand  to  restore 
a  million  dead,  slain  in  battle,  or  wasted  by  sickness,  or  dying  of 
grief,  broken-hearted?  Who  has  omniscience,  to  search  for  the 
scattered  ones?  Who  shall  restore  the  lost  to  broken  families? 
Who  shall  bring  back  the  squandered  treasure,  the  years  of  in- 
dustry wasted,  and  convince  you  that  four  years  of  guilty  rebel- 
lion, and  cruel  war,  are  no  more  than  dirt  upon  the  hand,  which  a 
moment's  washing  removes,  and  leaves  the  hand  clean  as  before  ? 
Such  a  war  reaches  down  to  the  very  vitals  of  society. 

Emerging  from  such  a  prolonged  rebellion,  he  is  blind  who 
tells  you  that  the  State,  by  a  mere  amnesty  and  benevolence  of 
Government,  can  be  put  again,  by  a  mere  decree,  in  its  old  place. 
It  would  not  be  honest,  it  would  not  be  kind  or  fraternal,  for  me 
to  pretend  that  Southern  revolution  against  the  Union,  has  not 
reacted,  and  wrought  revolution  in  the  Southern  States  them- 
selves, and  inaugurated  a  new  dispensation. 

Society  is  like  a  broken  loom,  and  the  piece  which  rebellion 
put  in,  and  was  weaving,  has  been  cut,  and  every  thread  broken. 
You  must  put  in  new  warp  and  new  woof — and,  weaving  anew, 
as  the  fabric  slowly  unwinds,  we  shall  see  in  it  no  gorgon  figures, 
no  hideous  grotesques  of  the  old  barbarism,  but  the  figures  of 
liberty,  vines  and  golden  grains,  framing  in  the  heads  of  Justice, 
Love,  and  Liberty  ! 

The  august  Convention  of  1787,  framed  the  Constitution  with 
this  memorable  preamble :  "We,  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect  Union,  establish  justice,  insure 
domestic  tranquility,  provide  for  the  common  defence,  promote 
the  general  welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  our- 
selves and  our  posterity,  do  ordain  this  Constitution  for  the 
United  States  of  America." 

Again,  in  the  awful  Convention  of  war,  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  for  the  very  ends  just  recited,  have  debated,  settled 
and  ordained,  certain  fundamental  truths,  which  must  henceforth  be 
accepted  and  obeyed.  Nor  is  any  State,  or  any  individual  wise, 
who  shall  disregard  them.  They  are  to  civil  affairs,  what  the  natural 
laws  are  to  health — indispensable  conditions  of  peace  and  happiness. 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  63 

What  are  the  ordinances  given  by  the  people,  speaking  out  of 
fire  and  darkness  of  war,  with  authority  inspired  by  that  same  God, 
who  gave  the  laws  from  Sinai  amid  thunders  and  trumpet  voices  ? 

1.  That  these  United  States  shall  be  one  and  indivisible. 

2.  That  States  are  not  absolute  sovereigns,  and  have  no  right 
to  dismember  the  republic. 

3.  That  universal  liberty  is  indispensable  to  Republican  Gov- 
ernment, and  that  slavery  shall  be  utterly  and  forever  abolished  ? 

Such  are  the  results  of  war  !  These  are  the  best  fruits  of  the 
war.  They  are  worth  all  they  have  cost.  They  are  foundations 
of  peace.  They  will  secure  benefits  to  all  nations,  as  well  as  to  us. 

Our  highest  wisdom  and  duty  is  to  accept  the  facts,  as  the 
decrees  of  God.  We  are  exhorted  to  forget  all  that  has  happened. 
Yes,  the  wrath,  the  conflict,  the  cruelty,  but  not  those  overruling 
decrees  of  God,  which  this  war  has  pronounced.  As  solemnly  as 
on  Mount  Sinai,  God  says,  "Remember!  remember!"  Hear  it, 
to-day.  Under  this  sun,  under  that  bright  child  of  the  sun,  our 
banner,  with  the  eyes  of  this  nation  and  of  the  world  upon  us,  we 
repeat  the  syllables  of  God's  Providence,  and  recite  the  solemn 
decrees : 

No  more  Disunion  ! 

No  more  Secession  ! 

No  more  Slavery  !     (Applause.) 

Why  did  this  civil  war  begin  ? 

We  do  not  wonder  that  European  statesmen  failed  to  com- 
prehend this  conflict,  and  foreign  philanthropists  were  shocked  at  a 
murderous  war,  that  seemed  to  have  had  no  moral  origin;  but, 
like  the  brutal  fights  of  beasts  of  prey,  to  have  sprung  from 
ferocious  animalism.  This  great  nation,  filling  all  profitable  lat- 
itudes, cradled  between  two  oceans,  with  inexhaustible  resources, 
with  riches  increasing  in  an  unparalleled  ratio,  by  agriculture,  by 
manufactures,  by  commerce,  with  schools  and  churches,  with 
books  and  newspapers,  thick  as  leaves  in  our  own  forests,  with 
institutions  sprung  from  the  people,  and  peculiarly  adapted  to 
their  genius ;  a  nation  not  sluggish,  but  active,  used  to  excite- 
ment, practiced  in  political  wisdom,  and  accustomed  to  self-go v- 


u 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 


ernment,  and  all  its  vast  outlying  parts  held  together  by  a  federal 
government,  mild  in  temper,  gentle  in  administration,  and  ben- 
eficent in  results,  we  do  not  wonder  that  it  is  not  understood  abroad. 

All  at  once,  in  this  hemisphere  of  happiness  and  hope,  there 
came  trooping  clouds  with  fiery  bolts,  full  of  death  and  desolation. 
At  a  cannon  shot  upon  this  fort,  all  the  nation,  as  if  they  had  been 
a  trained  army  lying  on  their  arms,  awaiting  a  signal,  rose  up  and 
began  a  war  which  for  awfulness,  rises  into  the  first  rank  of  bad 
eminence.  The  front  of  battle,  going  with  the  sun,  was  twelve 
hundred  miles  long;  and  the  depth,  measured  along  a  meridian, 
was  a  thousand  miles.  In  this  vast  area,  more  than  two  million 
men,  first  and  last,  for  four  years,  have  in  skirmish,  fight  and 
battle,  met  in  more  than  a  thousand  conflicts ;  while  a  coast  and 
river  line,  not  less  than  four  thousand  miles  in  length,  has 
swarmed  with  fleets,  freighted  with  artillery.  The  very  industry 
of  the  country  seemed  to  have  been  touched  by  some  infernal 
wand,  and  with  one  wheel,  changed  its  front  from  peace  to  war. 
The  anvils  of  the  land  beat  like  drums.  As  out  of  the  ooze 
emerge  monsters,  so  from  our  mines  and  founderies  uprose  new 
and  strange  machines  of  war,  iron-clad. 

And  so,  in  a  nation  of  peaceful  habits,  without  external  pro- 
vocation, there  arose  such  a  storm  of  war,  as  blackened  the  whole 
horizon  and  hemisphere.  What  wonder  that  foreign  observers 
stood  amazed  at  this  fanatical  fury,  that  seemed  without  divine 
guidance,  but  inspired  wholly  with  infernal  frenzy  % 

The  explosion  was  sudden,  but  the  train  had  long  been  laid. 
We  must  consider  the  condition  of  Southern  society,  if  we  would 
understand  the  mystery  of  this  iniquity.  Society  in  the  South, 
resolves  itself  into  three  divisions,  more  sharply  distinguished 
than  in  any  other  part  of  the  nation.  At  the  base  is  the  laboring 
class,  made  up  of  slaves.  Next  is  the  middle  class,  made  up  of 
traders,  small  farmers,  and  poor  men.  The  lower  edge  of  this 
class  touched  the  slave,  and  the  upper  edge  reached  up  to  the  third 
and  ruling  class.  This  class  were  a  small  minority  in  numbers^ 
but  in  practiced  ability,  they  had  centered  in  their  hands  the  whole 
government  of  the  South,  and  had  mainly  governed  the  country. 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  65 

Upon  this  polished,  cultured,  exceedingly  capable  and  wholly 
unprincipled  class,  rests  the  whole  burden  of  this  war.  Forced 
up  by  the  bottom  heat  of  slavery,  the  ruling  class,  in  all  the  dis- 
loyal States,  arrogated  to  themselves  a  superiority  not  com- 
patible  with  republican  equality,  nor  with  just  morals.  They 
claimed  a  right  of  pre-eminence.  An  evil  prophet  arose  who 
trained  these  wild  and  luxuriant  shoots  of  ambition  to  the  shapely 
form  of  a  political  philosophy. 

By  its  re-agents  they  precipitated  drudgery  to  the  bottom  of 
society,  and  left  at  the  top  what  they  thought  to  be  a  clarified 
fluid.  In  their  political  economy,  labor  was  to  be  owned  by  cap- 
ital. In  their  theory  of  government,  a  few  were  to  rule  the  many. 
They  boldly  avowed,  not  the  fact  alone,  that  under  all  forms  of 
government,  the  few  rule  the  many,  but  their  right  and  duty  to 
do  so.  Set  free  from  the  necessity  of  labor,  they  conceived  a  con- 
tempt for  those  who  felt  its  wholesome  regimen.  Believing  them- 
selves foreordained  to  supremacy,  they  regarded  the  popular  vote, 
when  it  failed  to  register  their  wishes,  as  an  intrusion  and  a 
nuisance.  They  were  born  in  a  garden,  and  popular  liberty,  like 
freshets,  overswelling  their  banks,  but  covered  their  dainty  walks 
and  flowers  with  slime  and  mud — of  Democratic  votes.  (Ap- 
plause). 

When,  with  shrewd  observation,  they  saw  the  growth  of  the 
popular  element  in  the  Northern  States,  they  instinctively  took 
in  the  inevitable  events.  It  must  be  controlled,  or  cut  oft"  from  a 
nation  governed  by  gentlemen  !  Controlled,  less  and  less,  could  it 
be,  in  every  decade;  and  they  prepared  secretly,  earnestly,  and 
with  wide  conference  and  mutual  connivance. 

We  are  to  distinguish  between  the  pretences,  and  means,  and 
causes  of  this  war. 

To  inflame  and  unite  the  great  middle  class  of  the  South,  who 
had  no  interest  in  separation,  and  no  business  with  war,  they 
alleged  grievances  that  never  existed,  and  employed  arguments 
which  they  better  than  all  other  men,  knew  to  be  specious  and 
false.  Slavery  itself  was  cared  for  only  as  an  instrument  of 
power,  or  of  excitement.     They  had  unalterably  fixed  their  eyes 


66  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

upon  empire,  and  all  was  good  which  would  secure  that,  and  bad 
which  hindered  it. 

Thus,  the  ruling  class  of  the  South — an  aristocracy  as  intense, 
proud  and  inflexible  as  ever  existed — not  limited  either  by 
customs  or  institutions,  not  recognized  and  adjusted  in  the  regular 
order  of  society,  playing  a  reciprocal  part  in  its  machinery,  but 
secretly  disowning  its  own  existence,  baptized  with  ostentatious 
names  of  democracy,  obsequious  to  the  people  for  the  sake  of  gov- 
erning them  ;  this  nameless,  lurking  ristocracy,  that  ran  in  the 
blood  of  society  like  a  rash,  not  yet  come  to  the  skin ;  this 
political  tapeworm,  that  produced  nothing,  but  lay  coiled  in  the 
body,  feeding  on  its  nutriment,  and  holding  the  whole  structure 
but  a  servant  set  up  to  nourish  it — this  aristocracy  of  the  plan- 
tation, with  firm  and  deliberate  resolve,  brought  on  the  war,  that 
they  might  cut  the  land  in  two ;  and  clearing  themselves  from  in- 
corrigible free  society,  set  up  a  sterner,  statelier  empire,  where 
slaves  worked  that  gentlemen  might  live  at  ease.  Nor  can  there 
be  any  doubt  that  though,  at  first,  they  meant  to  erect  the  form 
of  republican  government,  this  was  but  a  device  ;  a  step  necessary 
to  the  securing  of  that  power  by  which  they  should  be  able  to 
change  the  whole  economy  of  society. 

That  they  never  dreamed  of  such  a  war,  we  may  well  believe. 
That  they  would  have  accepted  it,  though  twice  as  bloody,  if  only 
thus  they  could  rule,  none  can  doubt  that  knows  the  temper  of 
these  worst  men  of  modern  society.  (Applause).  But,  they 
miscalculated.  They  understood  the  people  of  the  South ;  but 
they  were  totally  incapable  of  understanding  the  character  of  the 
great  working  classes  of  the  loyal  States.  That  industry  which  is 
the  foundation  of  independence,  and  so  of  equity,  they  stigmatized 
as  stupid  drudgery,  or  as  mean  avarice.  That  general  intelligence 
and  independence  of  thought,  which  schools  for  the  common 
people  and  newspapers  breed,  they  reviled  as  the  incitement  of 
unsettled  zeal,  running  easily  into  fanaticism. 

They  more  thoroughly  misunderstood  the  profound  sentiment 
of  loyalty  ;  the  deep  love  of  country  which  pervaded  the  com- 
mon people.     If  those  who  knew  them  best  had   never  suspected 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  67 

the  depth  and  power  of  that  love  of  country  which  threw  it  into 
an  agony  of  grief  when  the  flag  was  here  humbled,  how  should 
they  conceive  of  it,  who  were  wholly  disjoined  from  them  in  sym- 
pathy 1  The  whole  land  rose  up,  you  remember,  when  the  flag 
came  down,  as  if  inspired  unconsciously  by  the  breath  of  the  Al- 
mighty, and  the  power  of  omnipotence.  It  was  as  when  one 
pierces  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  for  a  rivulet,  and  the  whole 
raging  stream  plunges  through  with  headlong  course.  There  they 
calculated,  and  miscalculated  ! 

And  more  than  all,  they  miscalculated  the  bravery  of  men  who 
have  been  trained  under  law,  who  are  civilized,  and  hate  personal 
brawls,  who  are  so  protected  by  society  as  to  have  dismissed  all 
thought  of  self-defence,  the  whole  force  of  whose  life  is  turned  to 
peaceful  pursuits.  These  arrogant  conspirators  against  govern- 
ment, with  Chinese  vanity,  believed  that  they  could  blow  away 
these  self-respecting  citizens,  as  chaff  from  the  battle-field.  Few 
of  them  are  left  alive  to  ponder  their  mistake  ! 

Here,  then,  are  the  roots  of  this  civil  war.  It  was  not  a  quar- 
rel of  wild  beasts,  it  was  an  inflection  of  the  strife  of  ages,  be- 
tween power  and  right,  between  ambition  and  equity.  An  armed 
band  of  pestilent  conspirators  sought  the  nation's  life.  Her  child- 
ren rose  up  and  fought  at  every  door,  and  room  and  hall,  to 
thrust  out  the  murderers,  and  save  the  house  and  household. 
It  was  not  legitimately  a  war  between  the  common  people  of 
the  North  and  South.  The  war  was  set  on  by  the  ruling 
class,  the  aristocratic  conspirators  of  the  South.  They  suborn- 
ed the  common  people  with  lies,  with  sophistries,  with  cruel 
deceits  and  slanders,  to  fight  for  secret  objects  which  they 
abhorred,  and  against  interests  as  dear  to  them  as  their  own 
lives. 

I  charge  the  whole  guilt  of  this  war  upon  the  ambitious,  educa- 
ted, plotting,  political  leaders  of  the  South.  (Applause.)  They 
have  shed  this  ocean  of  blood.  They  have  desolated  the  South. 
They  have  poured  poverty  through  all  her  towns  and  cities. 
They  have  bewildered  the  imagination  of  the  people  with  phan- 
tasms, and  led  them  to  believe  that  they  were  fighting  for  their 


68  TRIP    OF     THE    OCEANUS. 

homes  and  liberty,  whose  homes  were  unthreatened,  and  whose 
liberty  was  in  no  jeopardy. 

These  arrogant  instigators  of  civil  war  have  renewed  the 
plagues  of  Egypt,  not  that  the  oppressed  might  go  free,  but  that 
the  free  might  be  oppressed.  A  day  will  come  when  God  will 
reveal  judgment,  and  arraign  at  his  bar  these  mighty  miscreants  ; 
and  then  every  orphan  that  their  bloody  game  has  made,  and 
every  widow  that  sits  sorrowing,  and  every  maimed  and  wound- 
ed sufferer,  and  every  bereaved  heart  in  all  the  wide  regions  of 
this  land,  will  rise  up  and  come  before  the  Lord  to  lay  upon  these 
chief  culprits  of  modern  history  their  awful  witness.  And  from  a 
thousand  battle-fields  shall  rise  up  armies  of  airy  witnesses,  who, 
with  the  memory  of  their  awful  sufferings,  shall  confront  these 
miscreants  with  shrieks  of  fierce  accusation;  and  every  pale  and 
starved  prisoner  shall  raise  his  skinny  hand  in  judgment.  Blood 
shall  call  out  for  vengeance,  and  tears  shall  plead  for  justice,  and 
grief  shall  silently  beckon,  and  love,  heart-smitten,  shall  wail  for 
justice.  Good  men  and  angels  will  cry  out,  "  How  long,  oh  Lord, 
how  long,  wilt  thou  not  avenge  ?" 

And,  then,  these  guiltiest  and  most  remorseless  traitors,  these 
high  and  cultured  men  with  might  and  wisdom,  used  for  the  des- 
truction of  their  country  ;  these  most  accursed  and  detested  of  all 
criminals,  that  have  drenched  a  continent  in  needless  blood,  and 
moved  the  foundations  of  their  times  with  hideous  crimes  and 
cruelty,  caught  up  in  black  clouds,  full  of  voices  of  vengeance  and 
lurid  with  punishment,  shall  be  whirled  aloft  and  plunged  down- 
ward forever  and  forever  in  an  endless  retribution ;  while  God 
shall  say,  "Thus  shall  it  be  to  all  who  betray  their  country"; 
and  all  in  heaven  and  upon  the  earth  will  say  "Amen  !"  (Voices: 
Amen!  Amen!) 

But  for  the  people  misled,  for  the  multitudes  drafted  and  driven 
into  this  civil  war,  let  not  a  trace  of  animosity  remain.  (Ap- 
plause.) The  moment  the  willing  hand  drops  the  musket,  and 
they  return  to  their  allegiance,  then  stretch  out  your  own  honest 
right  hand  to  greet  them.  Recall  to  them  the  old  days  of  kind- 
ness.    Our  hearts  wait  for  their  redemption.     All  the  resources 


TRIP    OF   THE   OCEANUS.  01) 

of  a  renovated  nation  shall  be  applied  to  rebuild  their  prosperity, 
and  smooth  down  the  furrows  of  war. 

[At  this  point  in  his  oration,  Mr.  Beecher  paused,  and  said,  "  J 
will  thank  the  band  to  play  an  air,  and  you  to  get  up  that  are 
sitting  down,  and  you  to  sit  down  that  have  been  standing :  and 
I  will  sit  down,  too,  and  rest  for  a  moment."  When  the  band 
had  ceased  playing,  he  said :  "  We  will  now  take  our  places 
again,  and  attend  to  our  business,"  and  then  proceeded  with  his 
speaking.] 

Has  this  long  and  weary  period  of  strife  been  an  unmingled 
evil  ?  Has  nothing  been  gained  ?  Yes,  much.  This  nation  has 
attained  to  its  manhood. 

Among  Indian  customs  is  one  which  admits  young  men  to  the 
rank  of  warriors  only  after  severe  trials  of  hunger,  fatigue,  pain, 
endurance.  They  reach  their  station,  not  through  years,  but 
ordeals.     Our  nation  has  suffered,  and  now  is  strong. 

The  sentiment  of  loyalty  and  patriotism,  next  in  importance  to 
religion,  has  been  rooted  and  grounded.  We  have  something  to 
be  proud  of,  and  pride  helps  love.  Never  so  much  as  now  did  we 
love  our  country.     (Great  applause.) 

But  four  such  years  of  education  in  ideas,  in  the  knowledge  of 
political  truth,  in  the  lore  of  history,  in  the  geography  of  our  own 
country,  almost  every  inch  of  which  we  have  probed  with  the 
bayonet,  have  never  passed  before.  There  is  half  a  hundred 
years'  advance  in  four. 

We  believed  in  our  institutions  and  principles  before  ;  but  now 
we  know  their  power.  It  is  one  thing  to  look  upon  artillery,  and 
be  sure  that  it  is  loaded;  it  is  another  thing  to  receive  its  dis- 
charge. (Laughter.)  We  believed  in  the  hidden  power  stored 
in  our  institutions ;  we  had  never  before  seen  this  nation  thunder- 
ing like  Mount  Sinai  at  all  those  that  worshipped  the  calf  at  the 
base  of  the  mountain. 

A  people  educated  and  moral  are  competent  to  all  the  exigen- 
cies of  national  life.     A   vote  can  govern   better  than  a  crown. 
We  have  proved  it.     (Applause.)     A  people  intelligent  and  reli- 
gious are    strong   in  all  economic  elements.     They  are  fitted  for 
5 


70  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

peace  and  competent  to  war.  They  are  not  easily  inflamed  ;  and, 
when  justly  incensed,  not  easily  extinguished.  They  are  pati- 
ent in  adversity,  endure  cheerfully  needful  burdens,  tax  themselves 
for  real  wants  more  royally  than  any  prince  would  dare  to  tax  his 
people.  They  pour  forth,  without  stint,  relief  for  the  sufferings  of 
war,  and  raise  charity  out  of  the  realm  of  a  dole,  into  a  munificent 
duty  of  beneficence. 

The  habit  of  industry  among  free  men  prepares  them  to  meet 
the  exhaustion  of  war  with  increase  of  productiveness  commen- 
surate with  the  need  that  exists.  Their  habits  of  skill  enable  them 
at  once  to  supply  such  armies  as  only  freedom  can  muster,  with 
arms  and  munitions  such  as  only  free  industry  can  create.  Free 
society  is  terrible  in  war,  and  afterwards  repairs  the  mischief  of 
war  with  a  celerity  almost  as  great  as  that  with  which  the  ocean 
heals  the  seams  gashed  in  it  by  the  keel  of  the  plowing  ship. 

Free  society  is  fruitful  of  military  genius.  It  comes  when  call- 
ed :  when  no  longer  needed,  it  falls  back  as  waves  do  to  the  level 
of  the  common  sea,  that  no  wave  may  be  greater  than  the  undi- 
vided water.  With  proof  of  strength  so  great,  yet  in  its  infancy, 
we  stand  up  among  the  nations  of  the  world  asking  no  privileges, 
asserting  no  rights,  but  quietly  assuming  our  place,  and  determi- 
ned to  be  second  to  none  in  the  race  of  civilization  and  religion. 

Of  all  nations,  we  are  the  most  dangerous  and  the  least  to  be 
feared.  (Laughter  and  applause.)  We  need  not  expound  the 
perils  that  wait  upon  enemies  that  assault  us.  They  are  sufficient- 
ly understood  !  (Laughter.)  But  we  are  not  a  dangerous  people 
because  we  are  warlike.  All  the  arrogant  attitudes  of  this 
nation,  so  offensive  to  foreign  governments,  were  inspired  by 
slavery,  and  under  the  administration  of  its  minions.  Our  tastes, 
our  habits,  our  interests  and  our  principles,  incline  us  to  the  arts 
of  peace. 

This  nation  was  founded  by  the  common  people,  for  the  com- 
mon people.  We  are  seeking  to  embody  in  public  economy 
more  liberty,  with  higher  justice  and  virtue,  than  have  been 
organized  before.  By  the  necessity  of  our  doctrines,  we  are  put 
in  sympathy  with  the  masses  of  men  in  all  nations.     It  is  not  our 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  71 

business  to  subdue  nations,  but  to  augment  the  powers  of  the 
common  people.  The  vulgar  ambition  of  mere  domination,  as  it 
belongs  to  universal  human  nature  may  tempt  us ;  but  it  is  with- 
stood by  the  whole  force  of  our  principles,  our  habits,  our  prece- 
dents and  our  legends. 

We  acknowledge  the  obligation  which  our  better  political  prin- 
ciples lay  upon  us  to  set  an  example  more  temperate,  humane 
and  just,  than  monarchical  governments  can.  We  will  not  suffer 
wrong,  and  still  less  will  we  inflict  it  upon  other  nations.  Nor 
are  we  concerned  that  so  many  ignorant  of  our  conflict,  for  the 
present,  misconceive  the  reasons  of  our  invincible  military  zeal. 
"  Why  contend,"  say  they,  "  for  a  little  territory  that  you  do  not 
need?"  Because  it  is  ours !  (Laughter  and  applause.)  Because 
it  is  the  interest  of  every  citizen  to  save  it  from  becoming  a  for- 
tress and  refuge  of  iniquity.  This  nation  is  our  house,  and  our 
fathers'  house ;  and  accursed  be  the  man  who  will  not  defend  it  to 
the  uttermost.  (Applause.)  More  territory  than  we  need? 
England,  that  is  not  large  enough  to  be  our  pocket,  (laughter,) 
may  think  that  it  is  more  than  we  need ;  but  we  are  better  judges 
of  what  we  need  than  they  are  ! 

Shall  a  philanthropist  say  to  a  banker  who  defends  himself 
against  a  robber,  "Why  do  you  need  so  much  money?"  But 
we  will  not  reason  with  such  questions.  When  any  foreign  nation 
willingly  will  divide  their  territory  and  give  it  cheerfully  away, 
we  will  answer  the  question  why  we  are  fighting  for  territory  ! 
(Laughter.) 

At  present— for  I  pass  to  the  consideration  of  benefits  that  ac- 
crue to  the  South  in  distinction  from  the  rest  of  the  nation— the 
South  reaps  only  suffering ;  but  good  seed  lies  buried  under  the 
furrows  of  war,  that  peace  will  bring  to  harvest. 

1.  Deadly  doctrines  have  been  purged  away  in  blood.  The  sub- 
tile poison  of  secession  was  a  perpetual  threat  of  revolution. 
The  sword  has  ended  that  danger.  That  which  reason  had  affirm- 
ed as  a  philosophy,  the  people  have  settled  as  a  fact.  Theory 
pronounces,  "There  can  be  no  permanent  government  where  each 
integral  particle  has  liberty  to  fly  off."     Who  would  venture  upon 


72  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

a  voyage  on  a  ship,  each  plank  and  timber  of  which  might  with- 
draw at  its  pleasure'?  (Laughter  and  applause.)  But  the  people 
have  reasoned  by  the  logic  of  the  sword  and  of  the  ballot,  and 
they  have  declared  that  States  are  inseparable  parts  of  national 
government.  They  are  not  sovereign.  State  rights  remain  ; 
but  sovereignty  is  a  right  higher  than  all  others  ;  and  that  has 
been  made  into  a  common  stock  for  the  benefit  of  all.  (Ap- 
plause.) All  further  agitation  is  ended.  This  element  must  be 
cast  out  of  political  problems.  Henceforth  that  poison  will 
not  rankle  in  the  blood. 

2.  Another  thing  has  been  learned;  the  rights  and  duties  of 
minorities.  The  people  of  the  whole  nation  are  of  more  authority 
than  the  people  of  any  section.  These  United  States  are  supreme 
over  Northern,  Western  and  Southern  States.  It  ought  not  to 
have  required  the  awful  chastisement  of  this  war  to  teach  that  a 
minority  must  submit  the  control  of  the  nation's  government  to  a 
majority.  The  army  and  navy  have  been  good  political  school- 
masters. (Laughter  and  applause.)  The  lesson  is  learned.  Not 
for  many  generations  will  it  require  further  illustration. 

3.  No  other  lesson  will  be  more  fruitful  of  peace  than  the  dis- 
persion of  those  conceits  of  vanity,  which,  on  either  side,  have 
clouded  the  recognition  of  the  manly  courage  of  all  Americans. 
If  it  be  a  sign  of  manhood  to  be  able  to  fight,  then  Americans  are 
men.  The  North,  certainly,  are  in  no  doubt  whatever  of  the 
soldierly  qualities  of  Southern  men.  Southern  soldiers  have 
learned  that  all  latitudes  breed  courage  on  this  continent.  Courage 
is  a  passport  to  respect.  The  people  of  all  the  regions  of  this 
nation  are  likely  hereafter  to  cherish  a  generous  admiration  of 
each  other's  prowess.  The  war  has  bred  respect,  and  respect 
will  breed  affection,  and  affection  peace  and  unity.     (Applause.) 

4.  No  other  event  of  the  war  can  fill  an  intelligent  Southern 
man  of  candid  nature  with  more  surprise,  than  the  revelation  of 
the  capacity,  moral  and  military,  of  the  black  race.  It  is  a  revela- 
tion indeed.  No  people  were  ever  less  understood  by  those  most 
familiar  with  them.  They  were  said  to  be  lazy,  lying,  impudent 
and   cowardly   wretches,  driven  by   the   whip  alone  to  the  tasks 


TftIP    OF    THE    OOEANUS.  73 

needful  to  their  own  support,  and  the  functions  of  civilization. 
They  were  said  to  be  dangerous,  blood-thirsty,  liable  to  insurrec- 
tion ;  but  four  years  of  tumultuous  distress  and  war  have  rolled 
across  the  area  inhabited  by  them,  and  I  have  yet  to  hear  of  one 
authentic  instance  of  the  misconduct  of  a  colored  man.  They 
have  been  patient  and  gentle  and  docile,  and  full  of  faith  and  hope 
and  piety ;  and  when  summoned  to  freedom  they  have  emerged 
with  all  the  signs  and  tokens  that  freedom  will  be  to  them  what 
it  was  to  be — the  swaddling  band  that  shall  bring  them  to  man- 
hood. And  after  the  Government  honoring  them  as  men,  sum- 
moned them  to  the  field,  when  once  they  were  disciplined,  and  had 
learned  the  art  of  war,  they  have  proved  themselves  to  be  not 
second  to  their  white  brethren  in  arms.  And  when  the  roll  of 
men  that  have  shed  their  blood  is  called  in  the  other  land,  many 
and  many  a  dusky  face  will  rise,  dark  no  more,  when  the  light  of 
eternal  glory  shall  shine  upon  it  from  the  throne  of  God. 

5.  The  industry  of  the  Southern  States  is  regenerated,  and  now 
rests  upon  a  basis  that  never  fails  to  bring  prosperity.  Just  now 
industry  is  collapsed  ;  but  it  is  not  dead.  It  sleepeth.  It  is  vital 
yet.  It  will  spring  like  mown  grass  from  the  roots  that  need  but 
showers  and  heat,  and  time  to  bring  them  forth.  Though  in  many 
districts  not  a  generation  will  see  wanton  wastes  of  self-invoked 
war  repaired,  and  many  portions  may  lapse  again  to  wilderness  ', 
yet,  in  our  life-time  we  shall  see  States,  as  a  whole,  raised  to  a 
prosperity,  vital,  wholesome  and  immovable. 

6.  The  destruction  of  class  interests,  working  with  a  religion. 
which  tends  towards  true  democracy  in  proportion,  as  it  is  pure 
and  free,  will  create  a  new  era  of  prosperity  for  the  common 
laboring  people  of  the  South.  Upon  them  has  come  the  labor, 
the  toil,  and  the  loss  of  this  war.  They  have  fought  blind-folded. 
They  have  fought  for  a  class  that  sought  their  degradation,  while 
they  were  made  to  believe  that  it  was  for  their  own  homes  and 
altars.  Their  leaders  meant  a  supremacy  which  would  not  long 
have  left  them  political  liberty,  save  in  name.  But  their  leaders 
are  swept  away.  The  sword  has  been  hungry  for  the  ruling 
classes.     It  has   sought  them  out  with   remorseless  zeal.     New 


74  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

men   are  to   rise  up  ;  new  ideas   are  to  bud  and  blossom  ;  and 
there  will  be  men  with  different  ambition  and  altered  policy. 

7.  Meanwhile,  the  South,  no  longer  a  land  of  plantations,  but 
of  farms ;  no  longer  tilled  by  slaves,  but  by  freedmen,  will  find  no 
hindrance  to  the  spread  of  education.  Schools  will  multiply. 
Books  and  papers  will  spread.  Churches  will  bless  every  hamlet. 
There  is  a  good  day  coming  for  the  South.  Through  darkness, 
and  tears,  and  blood  she  has  sought  it.  It  has  been  an  unconscious 
via  dolorosa.  But,  in  the  end,  it  will  be  worth  all  it  has  cost. 
Her  institutions  before  were  deadly.  She  nourished  death  in  her 
bosom.  The  greater  her  secular  prosperity,  the  more  sure  was 
her  ruin.  Every  year  of  delay  but  made  the  change  more  terri- 
ble. Now,  by  an  earthquake,  the  evil  is  shaken  down.  And  her 
own  historians,  in  a  better  day,  shall  write  that  from  the  day  the 
sword  cut  off  the  cancer  she  began  to  find  her  health. 

What,  then,  shall  hinder  the  rebuilding  of  this  republic  1  The 
evil  spirit  is  cast  out :  why  should  not  this  nation  cease  to  wander 
among  tombs,  cutting  itself?  Why  should  it  not  come,  clothed, 
and  in  its  right  mind,  to  "sit  at  the  feet  of  Jesus ?"  Is  it  feared 
that  the  Government  will  oppress  the  conquered  States  %  What 
possible  motive  has  the  Government  to  narrow  the  base  of  that 
pyramid  on  which  its  own  permanence  stands'? 

Is  it  feared  that  the  rights  of  the  States  will  be  withheld  %  The 
South  is  not  more  jealous  of  their  State  rights  than  the  North. 
State  rights,  from  the  earliest  colonial  days,  have  been  the  pecu- 
liar pride  and  jealousy  of  New  England.  In  every  stage  of 
national  formation,  it  was  peculiarly  Northern,  and  not  Southern, 
statesmen  that  guarded  Slate  rights  as  we  were  forming  the  Con- 
stitution. But,  once  united,  the  loyal  States  give  up  forever  that 
which  had  been  delegated  to  the  National  Government.  And 
now,  in  the  hour  of  victory,  the  loyal  States  do  not  mean  to 
trench  upon  Southern  States  rights.  They  will  not  do  it,  or  suffer 
it  to  be  done.  There  is  not  to  be  one  rule  for  high  latitudes,  and 
another  for  low.  We  take  nothing  from  the  Southern  States  that 
has  not  already  been  taken  from  Northern.  The  South  shall 
have  just  those  rights  that  every  Eastern,  every  Middle,  every 
Western  State  has — no  more,  no  less. 


TRIP   OF   THE   OCEANUS.  75 

We  are  not  seeking  our  own  aggrandizement  by  impoverishing 
the  South.  Its  prosperity  is  an  indispensable  element  of  our  own. 
We  have  shown,  by  all  that  we  have  suffered  in  war,  how  great 
is  our  estimate  of  the  importance  of  the  Southern  States  of  this 
Union ;  and  we  will  measure  that  estimate,  now,  in  peace,  by  still 
greater  exertions  for  their  rebuilding. 

Will  reflecting  men  perceive,  then,  the  wisdom  of  accepting 
established  facts  ;  and,  with  alacrity  of  enterprise,  begin  to  retrieve 
the  past  1 

Slavery  cannot  come  back.  It  is  the  interest,  therefore,  of 
every  man  to  hasten  its  end.  Do  you  want  more  war  ]  Are 
you  not  yet  weary  of  contest  ?  Will  you  gather  up  the  unex- 
ploded  fragments  of  this  prodigious  magazine  of  all  mischief,  and 
heap  them  up  for  continued  explosion  ?  Does  not  the  South  need 
peace  1  And,  since  free  labor  is  inevitable,  will  you  have  it  in  its 
worst  forms  or  its  best  %  Shall  it  be  ignorant,  impertinent,  indo- 
lent? or,  shall  it  be  educated,  self-respecting,  moral,  and  self-sup- 
porting 1  Will  you  have  men  as  drudges,  or  will  you  have  them 
as  citizens  1  Since  they  have  vindicated  the  Government,  and 
cemented  its  foundation  stones  with  their  blood,  may  they  not 
offer  the  tribute  of  their  support  to  maintain  its  laws  and  its 
policy  1  It  is  better  for  religion ;  it  is  better  for  political  integri- 
ty ;  it  is  better  for  industry ;  it  is  better  for  money — if  you  will 
have  that  ground  motive — that  you  should  educate  the  black  man ; 
and,  by  education,  make  him  a  citizen.  (Applause.)  They  who 
refuse  education  to  a  black  man,  would  turn  the  South  into  a  vast 
poor-house,  and  labor  into  a  pendulum,  necessity  vibrating  be- 
tween poverty  and  indolence. 

From  this  pulpit  of  broken  stone  we  speak  forth  our  earnest 
greeting  to  all  our  land. 

We  offer  to  the  President  of  these  United  States  our  solemn 
congratulations  that  God  has  sustained  his  life  and  health  under 
the  unparalleled  burdens  and  sufferings  of  four  bloody  years,  and 
permitted  him  to  behold  this  auspicious  consummation  of  that 
national  unity  for  which  he  has  waited  with  so  much  patience  and 
fortitude,  and  for  which  he  has  labored  with  such  disinterested 
wisdom.     (Applause.) 


i  n  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANU8. 

To  the  members  of  the  Government  associated  with  him  in  the 
administration  of  perilous  affairs  in  critical  times  ;  to  the  Senators 
and  Representatives  of  the  United  States  who  have  eagerly  fash- 
ioned the  instruments  by  which  the  popular  will  might  express 
and  enforce  itself,  we  tender  our  grateful  thanks.     (Applause.) 

To  the  officers  and  men  of  the  army  and  navy,  who  have  so 
faithfully,  skillfully,  and  gloriously  upheld  their  country's  author- 
ity, by  suffering,  labor,  and  sublime  courage,  we  offer  here  a 
tribute  beyond  the  compass  of  words.     (Great  applause.) 

Upon  those  true  and  faithful  citizens,  men  and  women,  who 
have  borne  up  with  unflinching  hope  in  the  darkest  hour,  and 
covered  the  land  with  the  labors  of  love  and  charity,  we  invoke 
the  divinest  blessing  of  Him  whom  they  have  so  truly  imitated. 
(Applause.) 

But,  chiefly  to  Thee,  God  of  our  fathers,  we  render  thanksgiv- 
ing and  praise  for  that  wondrous  providence  that  has  brought 
forth,  from  such  a  harvest  of  war,  the  seed  of  so  much  liberty  and 
peace. 

We  invoke  peace  upon  the  North.  Peace  be  to  the  West. 
Peace  be  upon  the  South. 

In  the  name  of  God,  we  lift  up  our  banner,  and  dedicate  it  to 
Peace,  Union,  and  Liberty,  now  and  forevermore.  Amen. 
(Great  applause.) 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  Address,  the  vast  audience 
rose  to  their  feet,  and  poured  out  their  hearts  in  thank- 
fulness, by  singing : 

7.  %  go^ologg,  to  %  tnm  of  "<SIo  fmteb/' 

"  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow  ! 
Praise  Him  all  creatures  here  below  ! 
Praise  Him  above,  ye  heavenly  host ! 
Praise  Father,  Son  and  holy  Ghost !" 

Never  did  a  loftier  enthusiasm  inspire,  and  uplift  the 
hearts   of  patriotic   men,   than    when   the   stately,   choral 


TRIP    OF    THE    OOEANUS.  77 

measures  of  this  sublime  ascription  rose  mightily,  beyond 
the  flag,  beyond  the  stars,  to  the  ear  and  heart  of  the 
Lord  of  Hosts ! 

But  the  exercise  upon  so  significant  and  illustrious  an 
occasion,  would  have  been  incomplete,  without  a  devout 
recognition  of  that  wisdom  which  had  guided  the  na- 
tional counsels ;  that  goodness  which  had  filled  the  cycle 
of  four  years  past  with  blessing  and  progress ;  and  that 
strong  "right  hand  and  holy  arm,"  which  had  "gotten 
us  the  victory." 

All  heads  were  therefore  reverently  bowed,  and  all 
lips  responded  a  fervent  "Amen,"  as  we  joined  in  heart, 
with 

8.  C^e  Closing  Imager  aittr  L$mtbxdxan. 

BY  REV.  R.  S.  STORRS,  JR.,  D.D. 

As  this  prayer  was  read,  and  withal  was  a  rare  pro- 
duction of  appropriateness,  comprehensiveness,  earnest 
patriotism,  lofty  faith  and  fervid  eloquence;  it  will 
gratify  all  our  readers,  to  find  it  exactly  transcribed  in 
this  work. 

We  append  it  here. 

PRAYER. 

Almighty  God,  our  Heavenly  Father,  who  wast,  and  art,  and  art 
to  come,  the  Eternal  Ruler  of  worlds  and  men,  having  Thy  glory 
above  the  heavens,  Holy  and  Reverend  is  Thy  Name.  Before 
Thy  throne  we  humbly  bow,  confessing  our  sins,  and  seeking  the 
continual  aids  of  Thy  grace.  Unto  Thee  we  render  our  joyful 
thanks,  that  Thou  hast  been  pleased  to  reveal  Thyself  to  us, 
through  Thy  Son  and  Thy  Spirit,  as  ready  to  hear  and  answer 
prayer. 


78  TRIP    OF    THE   OCEANUS. 

Thine,  oh  Lord !  are  power  and  majesty  ;  glory  and  victory  are 
Thine.  We  worship  and  adore  Thee  for  Thine  infinite  holiness, 
for  Thy  wisdom  and  might,  for  Thy  clemency  and  goodness,  and 
for  Thine  unsearchable  love  to  mankind.  We  adore  Thee  for 
Thine  immutable  sovereignty,  in  Providence  and  in  grace ;  that 
Thou  doest  Thy  pleasure  in  the  armies  of  Heaven,  and  dost 
sweetly  ordain  and  irresistibly  establish  Thy  counsel  in  the  earth ; 
and  that  ail  Thy  works  are  done  in  truth.  And  assembled  be- 
fore Thee  in  these  public  solemnities,  on  a  day,  and  in  a  scene, 
consecrated  by  memories  of  sorrow  and  fidelity,  of  sacrifice  and  of 
victory,  we  give  Thee  especial  thanks  for  all  Thy  goodness  to  us 
as  a  people;  most  of  all  in  the  bloody  and  terrible  years  through 
which  of  late  Thou  hast  caused  us  to  pass.  We  thank  Thee  for 
the  leaders  whom  Thou  hast  raised  up  for  us,  in  the  Cabinet  and 
the  Field ;  for  their  wisdom  in  council,  for  their  religious  con- 
secration and  trust;  for  their  valor,  and  skill,  and  fortitude  in  war. 
We  thank  Thee  for  the  successes  with  which  thou  hast  been 
pleased  to  crown  our  arms,  on  the  land  and  the  sea;  for  the  signal 
victories  which  of  late  we  have  gotten,  not  by  our  skill  and  will 
alone,  but  by  the  might  of  Him,  who  hath  helped  us ;  and  for  the 
discomfiture  of  the  plans  of  our  enemies. 

We  mourn  before  Thee,  for  the  thousands  who  have  fallen,  our 
beauty  and  strength,  upon  our  high  places.  But  we  bless  Thee 
and  praise  Thee,  that  their  suffering  and  death  have  not  been  in 
vain,  and  that  from  their  graves,  the  Nation  which  they  loved  hath 
drawn,  by  Thy  grace,  a  nobler  life ;  that  its  unity  is  maintained ; 
that  its  revered  institutions  are  preserved ;  that  the  shame  and 
curse  of  oppression  are  removed  from  it ;  that  its  throne  hence- 
forth is  established  in  righteousness ;  and  that  on  it  there  hang 
their  memorable  names,  as  a  thousand  bucklers,  all  shields  of 
mighty  men. 

And  now,  we  pray  Thee,  oh !  Lord  of  Hosts,  who  was  the  God 
of  our  fathers  aforetime,  and  in  whose  name  we  have  set  up  our 
banners,  that  the  flag  now  raised  anew  above  these  walls,  by  the 
hand  of  Thy  servant,  may  never  be  lowered  before  the  onset  of 
foreign  war  ;  before  the  more  deadly  assault  of  treason  ;  that  be- 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  79 

ing  upheld  and  advanced  by  Thee,  whose  counsel  is  infinite,  and 
whose  right  hand  is  glorious  in  power,  it  may  shine  forever  on  the 
front  of  our  land,  the  symbol  of  Christian  liberty  and  law,  of  peace, 
and  hope,  and  universal  well  being. 

With  Thy  merciful  favor  behold,  we  beseech  Thee,  and  plen- 
teously  bless,  Thy  servant,  the  President  of  these  United  States, 
and  all  who  are,  in  any  station  associated  with  him,  in  the  conduct 
of  the  government,  the  enactment  or  the  administration  of  law. 
Instruct  and  direct  them  by  Thy  Holy  Spirit,  and  endue  them 
with  Thy  grace;  that  as  mortal,  yet  immortal,  accountable  to 
History  and  responsible  to  Thee,  they  may  plan  with  prudence, 
may  labor  with  diligence,  may  wait  with  constant  hope  and  faith, 
and  may  see  Thy  work  always  prospering  in  their  hand. 

Bless  those  who  are  at  the  head  of  our  armies  and  navies,  and 
those  in  every  rank  of  command.  Make  them  to  be  strong  and  of 
a  good  courage  ;  ride  upon  the  heavens  in  their  help,  O  most 
High;  shelter  their  heads  in  the  day  of  battle;  make  them 
merciful  and  humane,  as  well  as  valiant  and  wise,  and  preserve 
them  hereafter,  as  Thou  hast  hitherto,  from  undue  exultation  in 
the  hour  of  victory. 

Bless  those  who  serve,  with  faithful  hearts,  in  whatever  place,  in 
our  armies  and  navies.  Teach  their  hands  to  war,  and  their 
fingers  to  fight,  yet  let  them  ever  be  mindful  of  Thee,  and  may 
they  live  to  receive  the  reward  of  all  their  perils  in  the  gratitude 
of  their  country,  and  in  Thy  smile. 

Remember  those  who  are  sick  and  wounded,  in  camp  and 
hospital,  and  those  who  are  prisoners  afar  from  home.  Grant 
them  speedy  healing,  and  quick  release ;  and  may  they  have 
succor  in  their  feebleness  and  pain,  and  solace  and  society  in  their 
solitude  and  want,  through  Thy  benediction. 

Remember  those  who  have  been  our  enemies,  and  turn  their 
hearts  from  wrath  and  war,  to  love  and  peace.  Let  the  desola- 
tions that  have  come  on  them  suffice,  and  unite  them  with  us  in 
ties  of  a  better  brotherhood  than  of  old;  that  the  cities,  and  homes, 
and  happiness  they  have  lost  may  be  more  than  replaced  in  the 
long  prosperity  they  shall  hereafter  know. 


80  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

Grant  Thy  Fatherly  blessing  unto  all  this  nation,  founded  in 
faith,  devoted  to  Thee  in  its  early  baptism  of  fire  and  blood,  and 
now  again  signally  saved  by  Thy  hand.  Thou  has  given  to  it  the 
preeious  fruits  brought  forth  by  the  sun,  and  the  precious  things 
put  forth  by  the  moon,  the  chief  things  of  the  ancient  mountains, 
and  the  precious  things  of  the  lasting  hills.  May  the  good  will  of 
Him  that  dwelt  in  the  bush,  be  also  its  inheritance,  and  let  Thy 
blessing  come  upon  its  head  ;  that  being  not  only  restored  but  re- 
newed, being  purified  in  its  spirit  and  perfected  for  Thy  service, 
by  the  sorrows  and  the  wonders  through  which  it  hath  been  led,  it 
may  be  a  nation  forevermore  to  Thine  honor  and  praise ;  the 
kingdom  of  Thy  favor,  the  people  and  the  nation  of  Thy  right 
hand.  So  hasten  through  it  the  coming  of  the  day,  when  all  the 
kingdoms  shall  be  at  last  the  kingdoms  of  Thy  Son,  and  when  the 
kindreds  and  tribes  of  the  earth,  knit  together  in  love,  shall  learn 
and  practice  war  no  more. 

And  now,  O  God,  our  Heavenly  Father,  help  us  who  are  here 
assembled  before  Thee,  and  who  never  again  shall  be  here 
assembled  before  Thee,  and  who  never  again  shall  be  so  as- 
sembled, until  we  stand  before  Thy  bar  to  consecrate  ourselves 
afresh,  on  this  historic  day  to  the  welfare  of  our  land;  to  the 
cause,  and  the  cross,  and  the  truth  of  our  Lord ;  that  we  may  live 
evermore  to  Thy  glory,  may  walk  in  Thy  light,  may  die  at  last  in 
thy  perfect  peace,  and  may  arise  to  our  rest  in  the  bosom  of  Thy 
love. 

We  offer  all  these  our  praises  and  thanksgivings,  and  ask  all 
these  inestimable  gifts,  only  in  His  most  worthy  name,  who  loved 
us,  and  sought  us,  and  gave  Himself  for  us,  even  unto  the  bitter 
death  upon  the  Cross,  and  unto  whom,  with  Thee,  O  Father !  and 
the  Holy  Ghost,  shall  be  honor  and  praise,  and  dominion  and 
power,  henceforth  and  forever,  world  without  end.     Amen. 

The  prayer  being  ended  with  the  Benediction,  the 
grand  ceremonial,  which  must  ever  live  upon  the  annals 
of  our  country's  history  was  concluded.     But  for  a  while 


TRIP    OF   THE   OCEAN  US.  81 

the  assemblage  seemed  riveted  to  the  spot.  During 
certain  portions  of  the  ceremony,  a  strange  absence  of 
demonstrative  enthusiasm  had  been  observed.  Once, 
when  the  flag  went  up,  it  was  irrepressible,  tumultuous 
and  overmastering.  At  other  times,  it  wTas  only  mode- 
rate, and  seemed  inadequate  to  the  suggestions  and  de- 
mands of  the  occasion.  No  other  solution  can  be  given 
of  this,  than  the  natural  difficulty  in  expressing  en- 
thusiasm according  to  a  programme ;  or  that  the  feeling 
of  the  participants  was  too  deep,  and  pervasive  and 
solemn,  for  noisy  demonstration. 

But  at  the  close  of  the  services,  once  more  it  broke 
forth,  and  a  vigorous  "  twice  three"  was  given  for  the 
old  nag,  three  more  for  Gen.  Anderson,  as  many  for 
President  Lincoln,  another  round  for  Gen.  Gilmore,  Mr. 
Beecher,  and  other  celebrities;  and  the  historic  scene 
was  over;  the  power  of  the  United  States  over  the 
waters  of  Charleston  Harbor,  and  the  soil  of  South  Car- 
olina, was  vindicated ;  and  the  banner  of  the  Republic, 
soon  to  be  restored,  was  left  floating  at  the  peak,  never 
to  be  displaced  again  by  rebellious  hands,  while  the 
names  of  Washington  and  Lincoln  linger  in  the  memory 
of  mankind. 

The  crowd  now  slowly  dispersed  about  the  fort,  sur- 
veying the  surrounding  scenery  from  the  parapet,  ex- 
ploring the  casemates  and  bomb-proofs  where  many  of 
the  laro-e  ^uns  still  remain  :  ruma^ino;  amidst  the  debris 
for  relics,  unearthing  great  pieces  of  shell  or  canister 
shot,    rusty   bits   of  iron,   bolts    and    screws    which    they 


82  TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS. 

carried  about  until  weary,  and  then  threw  away,  for 
some  less  ponderous  souvenir ;  plucking  leaves  and 
flowers  from  the  speakers'  stand,  indulging  in  general 
hand  shaking  with  the  military  celebrities  upon  the 
platform,  recognizing  old  acquaintances,  and  waiting  for 
the  steamboats  and  transports  to  come  up  to  the  dock, 
that  they  might  reembark  for  the  city. 

Meanwhile  the  "  Planter,"  whose  load  of  contrabands, 
for  some  as  yet  unexplained  reason,  had  not  been  per- 
mitted to  land  and  witness  the  ceremonies  within  the 
fort,  had  been  left  aground  at  the  landing,  by  the  fall- 
ing tide.  No  effort  of  her  own  could  set  her  afloat. 
Much  confusion  and  delay  ensued.  The  passengers  of 
the  "  Oceanus,"  were  compelled  to  cross  the  decks  of  the 
"  Planter,"  the  "  Delaware,"  and  the  "  Robert  Coit,"  to 
reach  the  "  Golden  Gate." 

In  passing  from  the  "  Planter"  to  the  "  Delaware,"  the 
crowd  became  very  dense  and  impatient.  The  bow 
of  the  former  lay  hard  against  the  side  of  the  latter. 
It  was  necessary  to  step  from  the  upper  deck  of 
the  one,  which  converged  to  a  point,  upon  the  deck  of 
the  other.  A  part  of  the  railing  of  the  "Planter,"  was 
broken  away  at  the  right,  and  nothing  was  between 
the  crowding  men  and  women,  and  the  water  below, 
except  the  high  upper  deck  upon  which  we  stood. 
Those  behind  pressed  hard  upon  those  in  advance. 
Warning  voices  were  heard  saying  that  the  wTeak  deck 
would  give  away.  Many  were  crowded  to  the  very 
verge.      There    was    real   danger   of  some   being    pushed 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  83 

into  the  water.  One  by  one,  and  very  slowly  at  that, 
the  people  were  handed  over  the  narrow  pass.  And 
we  record  these  circumstances  thus  minutely,  because  it 
was  regarded  as  a  noteworthy  Providence,  that  not  the 
slightest  accident  befel  any  person,  who  made  the 
transit.  Furthermore  it  may  be  added,  that  no  casualty 
whatever  occurred  throughout  the  entire  day,  to  mar 
the   enjoyment  and  harmony  of  the  occasion. 

The  living  freight,  at  last  being  duly  shipped,  the 
"  Golden  Gate"  and  the  "  Delaware,"  now  attached  their 
cables  to  the  "  Planter,"  and  drew  her  from  her  moorings 
of  mud.  Once  detached,  she  seemed  irresistible.  Her 
strong  wheels  conducted  themselves  as  though  desirous 
of  being  avenged  for  their  temporary  disgrace.  Robert 
Small  again  stood  on  the  top  of  the  wheelhouse,  and 
shouted  his  commands.  A  little  less  zeal  and  more  dis- 
cretion on  the  part  of  this  colored  captain,  would  have 
prevented  a  momentary  fright  for  our  ladies.  For,  fail- 
ing to  give  the  signal  for  reversing  in  time,  he  allowed 
his  dun-colored  craft  to  come  crashing  into  our  port 
wheel-house,  making  both  the  splinters  and  the  color 
fly.  However,  no  serious  damage  was  done  by  the  col- 
ision.  The  "  Planter"  with  its  motley  crew,  and  a  few  of 
our  own  party  who  had  failed  to  reach  the  "  Golden 
Gate,"  among  whom  we  noticed  our  Honorable  Mayor 
of  Brooklyn,  slowly  wheeled,  and  then  gallantly  led  the 
van  of  all  the  vessels,  on  the  return  to  the  city  of 
Charleston. 

After  sundry  mysterious  backings   and    circuits    of  our 


84  TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS. 

own  craft  around  the  fort,  at  length  she  turned  her  bow 
towards  the  spires  of  the  city,  and  soon  we  were  once 
more  on  board  the  "  Oceanus,"  partaking  of  an  excellent 
supper,  for  which  long  fasting  had  given  the  keenest 
relish. 

As  the  sun  went  down  over  the  waters  of  the  western 
sea,  the  echoes  which  had  slumbered  since  the  salute 
to  the  risen  flag,  were  again  awakened  by  the  thunder 
of  cannon  from   all  the  shipping. 

In  the  evening,  at  8  o'clock,  we  were  summoned  to 
the  decks,  to  witness  a  most  unique  and  beautiful  illu- 
mination, as  the  closing  demonstration  of  the  day.  At 
a  given  signal  from  the  flag-ship,  every  man-of-war* 
transport  and  monitor  in  the  harbor,  became  a  skeleton 
pyramid  of  flame.  Lanterns  thickly  slung  to  the  rig- 
ging and  culminating  at  the  top  of  the  mainmast, 
flashed  out  a  starry  light  or  line  of  lights,  reduplicated 
by  reflection  in  the  water,  while  on  the  decks  the  most 
brilliant  Gregorian  fires  of  red,  white,  blue,  green,  pink, 
purple  and  gold,  were  lighted,  whose  columns  of  smoke, 
rolling  lazily  upward  and  illuminated  respectively  by 
their  own  peculiar  flame,  presented  a  spectacle  of  almost 
dazzling  beauty.  Rockets  of  great  power  and  towering 
flight,  screamed  skyward  from  every  deck,  and  bursting 
with  a  muffled  sound,  dissolved  into  various  gorgeous 
tints,  dropped  gently  downward,  and  quenched  their 
splendor  in  the  tide. 

Hark !  the  boom  of  a  single  gun  from  the  flag-ship. 
Presto!   change!      In    a   moment    the    lights   are    extin- 


TRIP    OF   THE   OCEANUS.  85 

guished,  the  lanterns  run  down,  the  rockets,  blue  lights, 
and  Gregorian  fires  have  ceased  their  pyrotechnics,  and 
again  silence  and  darkness  lap  their  wings  over  the 
waters  of  the  Bay. 

Thus  ended  the  celebration  of  April  14th,  1865,  the 
day  of  the  flag's  resurrection,  the  day  of  swelling  pa- 
triotic joy  for  all  the  leal  and  loyal;  the  day  for  which 
the  North  has  prayed,  fought,  bled  and  suffered ;  the 
day  which  admonishes  all  the  nations;  the  day 
which  posterity  will  celebrate,  and  for  which  they  will 
ever  give  glory  to  Almighty  God. 

We  find  in  the  correspondence  of  the  "Tribune," 
from  the  pen  of  Mr.  A.  M.  Powell,  the  following  brief 
notice  of  the  reception  at  Gen.  Hatch's  headquarters  in 
the  evening. 

"In  the  evening,  Gen.  Hatch  gave  a  ball,  which  was 
largely  attended,  at  the  former  palatial  residence  of  Col. 
Ash.  It  was  just  four  years  previous  that  Col.  Ash 
himself  gave  a  grand  ball  at  the  same  place,  in  honor 
of  the  fall  of  Sumter.  Some  of  those  in  attendance  as 
waiters  upon  the  ball  given  by  Gen.  Hatch,  now  free 
men  and  women,  were  at  the  ball  four  years  previous 
as  the  slaves  of  Col.  Ash.  Their  comments,  in  contrast- 
ing the  people  assembled  upon  the  two  occasions,  were 
highly  favorable  to  those  at  the  North,  especially  the 
northern  ladies." 

Many  of  the  passengers,  not  in  attendance  upon  the 
ball,  were  deeply  interested  in  the  narrations  of  Capt. 
Kobert  Small,    who  paid   a    visit  to  our  steamer,  during 


86  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

the  evening.  He  is  a  stoutly  built  man,  of  little  more 
than  medium  height,  of  intelligent  countenance,  ready 
speech,  entire  self-possession,  and  considerable  humor. 
He  described  minutely  his  experience  four  years  ago ; 
as  his  plans  were  delayed  and  thwarted  by  the  coward- 
ice of  his  associates,  as  at  length  he  resolved  to  succeed 
or  die  in  the  attempt,  as  he  cut  the  moorings  of  his 
vessel,  and  lowered  them  by  strings  into  the  water,  that 
no  splash  might  awaken  the  sentry ;  as  he  moved  slowly 
alono-  the  river,  and  took  on  board  his  own  wife  and  chil- 
dren,  with  those  of  his  companions;  as  he  guided  the 
steamer  through  the  vessels  in  the  harbor,  to  the  walls  of 
Fort  Sumter,  at  3  o'clock  in  the  morning,  receiving  there 
no  notice ;  as  weary  of  waiting,  at  length  he  steamed, 
with  many  a  narrow  escape  from  detection,  past  all  the 
rebel  batteries,  and  at  last  delivered  his  vessel,  and  all 
on  board,  to  the  IT.  S.  blockading  fleet,  outside  of  the 
bar. 

For  more  than  an  hour  he  submitted  to  the  most 
rigid  catechising,  by  the  curious  passengers,  answering 
every  question  with  surprising  intelligence,  and  fre- 
quently with  genuine  wit  of  repartee. 

He  has  the  least  possible  faith  in  the  loyalty  of  Gov. 
Aiken,  or  any  of  those  who  are  returning  to  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance.  The  Government  estimated  the  value  of 
the  "Planter"  at  $9,000,  of  which  he  received  one  half. 
He  is  now  in  independent  circumstances,  and  is  re- 
garded by  all  the  other  negroes  as  immensely  rich,  and 
decidedlv  "  the  smartest  culhifl  man   in  Souf  Car'lina." 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  87 

At  an  unexpectedly  early  hour,  some  of  the  guests  of 
General  Hatch  returned  to  the  boat.  Upon  being  asked 
the  reason,  they  replied  that  their  hearts  were  not  there, 
k<  that  they  had  been  disturbed  throughout  the  evening, 
by  certain  strange  presentiments  and  foreshadowings  of 
evil." 

How  little  recked  they  of  that  cloud  of  Cimmerian 
darkness,  in  which  a  more  northern  sun  had  but  just 
gone  down ;  of  the  scene  transpiring  in  the  nation's 
Capital,  at  the  very  hour  when  the  buoyant  ones  in  the 
saloons  of  Rebel  chiefs,  were  "  chasing  the  glowing 
hours  with  flying  feet?" 

But  we  would  not  lift  the  curtain  a  moment  too  soon. 

The  wearied  dancers  returned  to  the  steamer,  at  the 
spectral  hours;  the  lights  burned  low;  the  cabins  were 
still;  and  all,  in  "sleep's  serene  oblivion,"  were  waiting 
for  the  morrow. 


CHAPTEK    VI. 

It  had  been  announced  that  the  "Oceanus"  would  sail 
Saturday  morning,  at  10  o'clock,  but  a  universal  desire 
to  see  more  of  the  city,  and  attend  the  "  Freedmen's 
meeting,"  at  Zion's  Church,  secured  a  postponement  of 
the  hour  to  5  o'clock  p.  m.,  precisely.  The  day  was 
therefore  at  the  disposal  of  the  company. 

Glad  of  this  extension  of  time,  they  were  scattered, 
after  breakfast,  in  every  direction  about  the  city,  to 
finish  their  explorations.  A  few,  whose  tastes  led  them 
in  that  direction,  went  up  to  the  mansion  of  Gov. 
Aiken,  which  notorious  individual  they  found  quite  hos- 
pitable and  communicative.  As  it  would  be  impossible 
to  describe  all  that  was  seen  by  our  curious  party  of 
two  hundred,  we  shall  give  the  results  of  our  own  ex- 
plorations, and  the  additional  matter  which  has  been 
kindly  transmitted  for  our  use  in  this  volume. 

Entering  first  the  old  "  State  Bank  of  South  Carolina," 
we  found  it  utterly  ruined  by  fire,  and  the  effect  of 
shells.  The  rooms  were  wholly  denuded;  the  charred 
rafters  and  sleepers  everywhere  protruding ;  the  floors 
strewed  with  bank  papers  of  every  description,  half 
burned    and  covered   with  dust   and    cinders.      A   glance 


TRIP    OF    THE   OCEANUS.  89 

at  one  room  was  sufficient,  for  all  were  in  like  con- 
dition. The  Bank  of  Charleston,  which  we  next  visited, 
is  much  less  injured  and  ravaged.  Originally  it  was  a 
much  finer  structure. 

The  marble-topped  desks  and  counters  remain,  and  are 
occupied  by  our  officers,  who  make  the  bank  a  business 
depot.  A  gentlemanly  official,  lighting  a  candle,  con- 
ducted our  party  into  the  vault,  a  room  about  10  by  15 
feet,  lined  on  three  sides,  with  pigeon  holes,  and  car- 
peted now  with  worthless  paper  rubbish.  The  "  Direc- 
tor's Room,"  handsomely  frescoed  and  furnished,  was 
in  the  possession  of  a  U.  S.  officer.  The  rooms  upon 
the  second  floor,  were  piled  knee-deep  with  old  bank 
accounts,  notes,  bills  of  exchange,  papers  of  every  des- 
cription, and  of  the  least  possible  intrinsic  value.  Here 
the  mania  for  "relics"  ran  high.  Dozens  of  curiosity- 
hunters  were  bending  over  them  on  hands  and  knees, 
untying  old  yellow  and  dusty  bundles,  selecting  ancient 
and  curious  documents,  and  duly  bestowing  them  in 
the  voluminous  depths  of  coat  pockets,  or  carrying  them 
off  tenderly  under  the  arm.  Occasionally  could  be 
heard,  "  ah !  here's  a  prize !  only  look !  1730,  1776,"  etc. 

Enough  of  these  valuable  acquisitions  were  brought 
home  to  comfortably  stock  "No.  25  Ann  St." 

The  old  City  Hall  we  found  to  be  the  rendezvous 
of  the  regiments  which  are  now  on  guard  in  the  city. 
Muskets  were  stacked  before  it  and  within  it;  patrols 
walked  measuredly  back  and  forth,  while  the  "boys" 
off    duty     were     asleep    upon    the    benches     and    floors 


90  TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS. 

within.  This  building  was  in  the  same  general  con- 
dition of  those  before  described,  everything  indicating 
that  the  Kebels  went  out  in  haste  and  by  flight. 

Precisely  the  same  may  be  said  of  the  Court-House, 
on  the  opposite  corner  of  the  street,  never  an  imposing 
building,  and  now  sacked,  gloomy  and  desolate. 

Upon  the  corner  diagonally  from  the  City  Hall, 
stands  the  Guard-House,  before  which  negro  sentinels 
were  pacing,  with  bayonets  fixed.  Entering  here  we 
found  a  number  of  contrabands  in  the  large  lower  room, 
and  boys  of  every  size,  with  a  few  middle-aged  men, 
all  exceedingly  ragged,  but  apparently  very  happy.  In 
one  corner,  two  youngsters  were  shuffling  a  pack  of 
dirty  cards.  Mr.  Win.  B.  Bradbury,  asked  them,  as  they 
gathered  curiously  around,  to  sing  some  of  their  regular 
old  plantation  songs— or  the  melodies  which  they  use  in 
their  "quarters."  Accordingly  they  went  through  with 
several  of  their  strange,  hum-drum,  droning  airs,  ring- 
ing the  changes  npon  particular  words  or  phrases,  vary- 
ing the  melody  by  only  three  or  four  notes,  and  pro- 
ducing   a    very    wierd    effect.      Sometimes    they    ended 


*& 


these   monotonous   chantings  with  a  "shout,"    or   accom- 
panied   them    with    a   "  break-down"    dance.      As    they 
sang,  Mr.  Bradbury  took  down  hurriedly  the  notes  upon 
a   slip    of  paper,    and    may  hereafter   give    them   greater 
publicity,   as  a  curiosity  of  plantation  melody. 
One  of  the  bystanders  said : 
"Boys  do  you  know  the  John   Brown  song'*" 
u  Oh !  yas,  Massa,  we  know  John  Brown !" 


TEIP    OF    THE    OCEAN  US.  91 

"Well,  give  it  to  us  now!" 
Then  they  broke  forth : 

"  John  Brown's  body  lies  a  mouldering  in  the  grave,  etc. 
But  his  soul  am  marching  home.'" 

"  Do  you  know  the  second  verse,  boys?" 

"Yas!   yas!  we  know  de  second  verse    too" — and  they 

sang, 

"We'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  to  a  sour  apple  tree ! 
We'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  to  a  sour  apple  tree  ! 
We'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  to  a  sour  apple  tree  ! 
On  Canaan's  happy  shore  /" 

So  simple  and  ludicrous,  is  the  admixture  of  ideas  in 
the  minds  of  these  untutored  Africans !  In  their  truilt- 
less  ignorance,  they  see  no  reason  why  "Canaan's 
happy  shore,"  may  not  be  an  excellent  place  for  an  ex- 
ecution. And  upon  the  principle  of  aggravation,  why 
might  it  not,  were  it  possible !  Why  might  not  the 
the  most  conscienceless  and  deepest  dyed  criminal  which 
the  nineteenth  century  has  produced,  fitly  be  hanged, 
where  his  last  glance  beyond  the  lightning  hempen  cord 
might  be,  at  the  "sweet  fields  dressed  in  living  green," 
the  "tree  of  everlasting  life,"  the  "golden  streets,"  and 
the  blissful  choirs  of  the  heavenly  country,  from  which 
his  towering  and  unrepented  wickedness  have  forever 
debarred  him?  Underlying  the  thoughtless  utterance 
of  the  manumitted  slave,  may  be  found  some  true 
philosophy. 

Many  of  these  simple-hearted,  yet  natively  religious 
black  men,  having  never  heard  the  "  Yankees"  men- 
tioned   by    their  masters,  except  coupled  with    a  profane 


92  TEIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS. 

prefix,  have  been  praying  for  years  with  the  most 
unctuous  fervor,  "  O  Lord  !  bress,  we  beseech  Thee,  and 
speedily  bring  along  de  comin'  of  de  "  dam  Yankees." 

And  the  Lord  has  heard  them.  Now  the  beings  so 
long  oppressed  and  degraded,  seem  to  be  living  in  the 
single  idea  that  they  are  free.  That  thought  has  pos- 
sessed them  night  and  day,  year  after  year,  and  now 
that  freedom  lias  come,  can  any  wonder  that  it  is  dif- 
ficult for  them  to  realize  it,  and  rise,  at  once,  to  the 
full  understanding,  not  only  of  the  privileges  which  it  con- 
fers, but  of  the  duties  which  it  makes  imperative  \  Their 
faith  in  their  coining  deliverance,  has  never  wavered. 
One  old  colored  exhorter,  thus  expressed  it :  "I  know 
dat  we  was  to  be  free,  dat  the  day  would  come,  when 
de  Lord  willed  it,  and  I  pray  for  it.  I  wait  wid 
patience,  for  I  know  when  de  Lord's  time  did  come,  he 
would  raise  up  a  man,  as  he  raised  Moses,  to  deliber 
de  people." 

It  has  been  asserted  that  the  slaves  were  treated  with 
so  much  kindness,  that  they  would  be  unwilling  to  leave 
their  masters  for  freedom. 

A  touching  incident  was  related,  which  bears  upon 
this  point  and  may  undoubtedly  be  accepted  as  re- 
presentatives of  almost  the  entire  class. 

A  master  was  expressing  surprise  to  his  slave,  a  man 
of  middle  age,  that  he  should  be  willing  to  leave  him, 
"Have  I  not  always  treated  you  well,  fed,  clothed  and 
cared  for  you.  Do  you  really  want  to  be  free,  and 
your  own  master!" 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  93 

"  Oh  mas'r,"  replied  the  slave,  "  if  you  could  only 
hab  seen  my  knees  for  dese  last  seben  years,  how  I'se 
prayed  and  prayed  for  freedom,  you  neber  ax  clat 
question." 

All  the  streets  along  which  we  passed  were  alive  with 
negroes,  men,  women,  boys  and  girls,  from  the  line 
looking  octoroons  and  whiter  damsels,  from  fourteen 
to  twenty  years  of  age,  dressed  in  clean,  well-starched 
gowns  of  calico,  and  bonnets  of  modern  style,  to  the 
elder  women  with  fancy  turbans  ;  from  the  little  ragged, 
sooty  "piccaninnies,"  rolling  in  the  sand,  or  playing  on 
the  sidewalk,  to  the  decrepit,  grey-headed  old  men,  sit- 
ting doubled  up  on  the  curb-stone  or  steps  of  the  stores, 
all  watching  eagerly  the  new  crowd  of  passers  by.  The 
amount  of  "  shinplasters,"  given  to  these  people,  by  the 
passengers  of  the  "  Oceanus,"  cannot  ever  be  conjectured, 
but  it  was  a  matter  of  devout  desire,  that  evening,  that 
the  steamer  would  sail  at  once,  lest  a  day  or  two 
longer  in  the  city,  would  leave  our  company  with  fear- 
fully gaunt  portmonaies.  Five  of  the  slaves  of  Gov. 
Aiken,  were  huddled  in  a  doorway — a  father  and  moth- 
er, with  three  children — and  tive  more  ignorant,  bedrag- 
gled  and  wretched  creatures,  it  would  be  difficult  to  find. 

One  good-looking,  intelligent  negress,  ran  after  us  as 
we  passed,  and  touching  our  companion  upon  the  arm, 
exclamed : 

"Oh!   ain't  you  Mr.  Ames,  sir?" 

Our  good-natured  fellow  passenger,  blandly  ignored 
any  title  to  that  brief  patronymic. 


94  TKIP    OF    THE    OCEAN  US. 

"  I  thought  it  must  be,  you  look  so  much  like  dat 
gemman." 

We  fell  into  conversation  with  her. 

"  Aunty,"  said  we,  you  are  free  I" 

"  Oh  sar,"  she  cried,  striking  her  hands  frequently 
together,   "  free  as    de  birds  of  de  air,  bress  de  Lord !" 

"  Well,"  we  responded,  you  won't  call  any  man 
i  massa,'  again,  will  you?" 

Oh,  No  8ah,  no  sah !  It  doesn't  seem  as  if  I  go  uld 
make  up  my  mouf  to  say  '  massa,'  again  to  any  man." 

"  Aunty,  how  old  are  you  !" 

"  Don't  know  precisely,  sah !  'spect  I'm  nearly  fifty 
years  old." 

"  How  many  children  have  you  ?" 

"  I've  had  thirteen,  sah !  my  first  child  was  born 
when  I  was  fourteen  years  old." 

"  Have  you  a  husband  !" 

"  Yes,  sah!  dar*s  my  ole  man,"  pointing  to  a  hale 
and  hearty  negro,  sitting  upon  the  door-stone,  a  few 
steps  off.  "  Come  along  here,  John,  want  to  'duce  ye 
to  dese  yer  Northern  gemman !"  And  John  came  up, 
with  grinning  visage,  and  rolling  gait,  and  submitted 
to  the  operation  of  "during"  which  being  accomplished, 
he  modestly  retired,  and  left  the  colloquy  to  his  more 
communicative,  if  not  better  half. 

We  passed  on  towards  the  citadel  and  common.  On 
every  block  were  marks  of  ruin  and  desertion  still.  A 
very  few  stores  were  open,  with  the  most  meagre  stock 
of  the   simplest    articles,    and    a    lamentable    paucity    of 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  95 

purchasers.  But  the  most  of  the  stores  were  abandoned, 
the  shells  having  made  them  untenable.  The  signs  re- 
main, and  many  a  familiar  name  and  firm  were  re- 
cognized. One  gentlemen  of  our  party,  standing  at 
the  crossing  of  the  streets,  pointed  out  to  us  the 
signs  of  eleven  firms  "  which "  said  he  "  owe  us  money 
in  sums  from  one  thousand  to  eleven  thousand  dol- 
lars " — Another  gentleman  looking  obliquely  down 
Broad  street,  exclaimed  "  Ah,  there's  a  firm  that  owes 
me   over   a   thousand  dollars !" 

The  slave-mart  attracted  much  attention — the  veri- 
table pens  in  which  families  were  kept,  and  at  the 
auction  block,  separated  forever.  The  day  of  traffic 
in  human  fiesh  is  past — the  dreadful  marts  are  closed, 
and  the  wail  of  their  agonized  victims  will  never 
more   be   heard   in   the   streets   of  Charleston. 

We  were  shown  also  the  jail,  with  its  dark  dun- 
geons and  instruments  of  torture  for  refractory  slaves  ! 
another  obsolete  institution  in  the  city,  and  destined 
to  become  so  throughout  every  State  of  the  free 
Republic. 

Pausing  here  for  a  few  moments  in  this  narration, 
we  turn  to  speak  of  the  great  meetings  held  on 
"  Citadel  Square  "  and  in  "  Zion's  Church."  At  an  early 
hour  the  colored  people  had  began  to  assemble  about 
the  stands  erected  for  the  speakers.  The  colored  pub- 
lic school  children  met  at  the  school  houses  and 
marched  in  procession,  led  by  Superintendent  Redpath, 
to   the   square. 


96  TRIP    OF   THE   OCEANUS. 

While  waiting  for  the  speakers  to  arrive,  Major 
Delaney,  (colored,)  of  General  Saxton's  staff,  made  an 
address   to    the   crowd. 

^tribal  ai  Hm,  iPagtr  (&mxmn. 

Just  before  10  o'clock,  the  surging  and  cheering  of 
the  vast  throng  announced  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Garrison. 
It  was  impossible  to  repress  the  enthusiasm  of  that 
crowd  of  freemen.  Not  content  with  deafening  shouts, 
they  pressed  towards  their  illustrious  friend,  and  bore 
him  on  their  shoulders  to  the  speaker's  stand.  At 
sight  of  this  demonstration,  Major  Delaney  remarked 
that  "  this  day  should  be  the  resurrection  of  John  C. 
Calhoun." 

A  single  incident  related  by  one  of  our  passengers, 
Mr.  J.  L.  Leonard,  of  Lowville,  K.  Y.,  will  illustrate 
the  interest  which  absorbed  the  freedmen,  as  these 
scenes    were    being   enacted.     He   says : 

"  You  remember  that  the  Citadel  Square  was  filled 
with  colored  people  on  the  15th  of  April,  and  the 
children,  hundreds  in  number,  from  the  colored 
schools,  were  marching  in  procession,  singing  ,"  John 
Brown  "  and  other  songs.  As  I  passed  through  the 
crowd,  I  saw  an  old  negro,  who  must  have  been 
over  seventy  years  of  age,  sitting  on  the  low  wall, 
and  noticing  that  he  had  a  wooden  leg,  I  went  up 
and  inquired  of  him  how  he  lost  his  leg.  He  at- 
tempted to  answer,  but  was  too  much  absorbed  in 
the    spectacle    before    him    to    reply,    and    as   the    tears 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  97 

rolled  down  his  face,  he  exclaimed  '  My  God !  My 
God !  what  a  sight !'  '  Peace !  Peace !'  and  then 
hearing  the  report  of  a  fire-arm,  he  started  up  in 
alarm,'  asking,  '  What's  that !'  his  thoughts  evidently 
going  back  to  former  days.  He  immediately  turned 
his  attention  again  to  the  children,  and  was  so  com- 
pletely overcome  that  it  was  some  time  before  he 
could  reply  to  my  question.  The  intense  interest 
manifested  by  this  poor  old  man  made  a  strong  im- 
pression upon  me,  and  I  have  often  thought  of  it 
since  as  an  illustration  of  the  peculiar  emotional  na- 
ture of  that  race,  of  which  I  had  often  heard,  but 
which   I   had    never  before   witnessed." 

As  it  was  not  possible  for  Senator  Wilson  to  speak 
in  the  open  air,  an  adjournment  wras  immediately 
made  to  Zion's  Church.  It  is  estimated  that  3,000 
freedmen    crowded   themselves   within    its    walls. 

Upon  the  platform  were  to  be  seen  the  Hon. 
Henry  Wilson,  William  Lloyd  Garrison,  George 
Thompson,  General  Saxton,  Theodore  Tilton,  Judge 
Kelly,  of  Penn.,  Dr.  J.  Leavitt,  and  others.  In  front 
of  the  platform  was  a  large  number  of  army  and 
navy   officers,    and   visitors,    including   several   ladies. 

When    all    were   seated,    a   freedman,    named    Samuel 

Dickerson,    accompanied   by  his   two  daughters,    bearing 

a   beautiful   wreath    of  flowers,  advanced    to   the   pulpit, 

and   addressing   Mr.    Garrison,    said : 

Sir — It  is  with  pleasure  that  is  inexpressible  that  I  welcome 
you  here  among  us,  the  long,  the  steadfast  friend  of  the  poor,  down- 


98  TRIP    OF     THE    OCEANUS. 

trodden  slave.  Sir,  I  have  read  of  you.  I  have  read  of  the 
mighty  labors  you  have  had  for  the  consummation  of  this  glori- 
ous object.  Here  you  see  stand  before  you  your  handiwork. 
These  children  were  robbed  from  me,  and  I  stood  desolate. 
Many  a  night  I  pressed  a  sleepless  pillow  from  the  time  1  re- 
turned to  my  couch  until  the  close  of  the  morning.  I  lost  a  dear 
wife,  and  after  her  death  that  little  one,  who  is  the.  counterpart 
of  her  mother's  countenance,  was  taken  from  me.  1  appealed 
for  her  with  all  the  love  and  reason  of  a  father.  The  rejection 
came  forth  in  these  words  :  "  Annoy  me  not,  or  I  will  sell  them 
off  to  another  State."  I  thank  God  that  through  your  instrumen- 
tality, under  the  folds  of  that  glorious  flag  which  treason  tried 
to  triumph,  you  have  restored  them  to  me.  And  I  tell  you  it  is 
not  this  heart  alone,  but  there  are  mothers,  there  are  fathers, 
there  are  sisters,  and  there  aro  brothers,  the  pulsation  of  whose 
hearts  are  unimaginable.  The  greeting  that  they  would  give  you, 
Sir,  it  is  almost  impossible  for  me  to  express;  but  simply,  Sir, 
we  welcome  and  look  upon  you  as  our  saviour.  We  thank  you 
for  what  you  have  done  for  us.  Take  this  wreath  from  these 
children,  and  when  you  go  home,  never  mind  how  faded  they 
may  be,  preserve  them,  encase  them,  and  keep  them  as  a  token 
of  affection  from  one  who  has  loved  and  lived.     (Cheers.) 

Mr.  Garrison,  in  reply,  spoke  as  follows : 
My  Dear  Friend — I  have  no  language  to  express  the  feelings 
of  my  heart  on  listening  to  your  kind  and  strengthening  words, 
on  receiving  these  beautiful  tokens  of  your  gratitude,  and  on  look- 
ing into  the  faces  of  this  vast  multitude,  now  happily  liberated 
from  the  galling  fetters  of  slavery.  Let  me  say  at  the  outset : 
"  Not  unto  us,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  God  be  all  the  glory"  for 
what  has  been  done  in  regard  to  your  emancipation.  I  have  been 
actually  engaged  in  this  work  for  almost  forty  years — for  I  began 
when  1  was  quite  young  to  plead  the  cause  of  the  enslaved  in  this 
country.  But  I  never  expected  to  look  you  in  the  face,  never  sup- 
posed you  would  hear  of  anything  I  might  do  in  your  behalf.  J 
knew  only  one  thing — all  that  I  wanted  to  know — that  you  were  a 
grievously  oppressed  people  ;  and    that,  on  every  consideration  of 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  99 

justice,  humanity,  and  right,  you   were  entitled  to  immediate  and 
unconditional  freedom. 

I  hate  slavery  as  I  hate  nothing  else  in  this  world.  It  is  not 
only  a  crime,  but  the  sum  of  all  criminality ;  not  only  a  sin,  but 
the  sin  of  sins  against  Almighty  God.  1  cannot  be  at  peace  with 
it  at  any  time,  to  any  extent,  under  any  circumstances.  That  I 
have  been  permitted  to  witness  its  overthrow  calls  for  expressions 
of  devout  thanksgiving  to  heaven.  It  was  not  on  account  of  your 
complexion  or  race,  as  a  people,  that  I  espoused  your  cause,  but 
because  you  were  the  children  of  a  common  Father,  created  in 
the  same  divine  image,  having  the  same  inalienable  rights,  and  as 
much  entitled  to  liberty  as  the  proudest  slaveholder  that  ever 
walked  the  earth. 

For  many  a  year  I  have  been  an  outlaw  at  the  South  for  your 
sakes,  and  a  large  price  was  set  upon  my  head,  simply  because  I 
endeavored  to  remember  those  in  bonds  as  bound  with  them. 
Yes— God  is  my  witness  ! — I  have  faithfully  tried,  in  the  face  of 
the  fiercest  opposition,  and  under  the  most  depressing  circumstan- 
ces, to  make  your  cause  my  cause ;  my  wife  and  children  your 
wives  and  children,  subjected  to  the  same  outrage  and  degrada- 
tion ;  myself  on  the  same  auction-block,  to  be  sold  to  the  highest 
bidder.  Thank  God,  this  day  you  are  free!  (Great  cneering.) 
And  be  resolved  that,  once  free,  you  will  be  free  forever.  No — 
not  one  of  you  ever  will,  ever  can  consent  again  to  become  a 
bondman.     Liberty  or  death,  but  never  slavery.     (Cheers.) 

It  gives  me  joy  to  assure  you,  that  the  American  Government 
will  stand  by  you  to  establish  your  freedom  against  whatever 
claims  your  former  masters  may  bring.  The  time  was  when  it 
gave  no  protection,  but  was  on  the  side  of  the  oppressor,  where 
there  was  power.  Now  all  is  changed  !  Once,  I  could  not  feel 
any  gladness  at  the  sight  of  the  American  flag,  because  it  was 
stained  with  your  blood,  and  under  it  four  millions  of  slaves  were 
daily  driven  to  unrequited  labor.  Now,  it  floats,  purged  of  its 
gory  stain ;  it  symbolizes  freedom  for  all,  without  distinction  of 
race  or  color.  The  Government  has  its  hold  upon  the  throat  of 
the  monster  Slavery,  and  is  strangling  the  life  out  of  it. 


100  TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS. 

In  conclusion,  I  thank  you,  my  friend,  for  your  affecting  and 
grateful  address,  and  for  these  handsome  tokens  of  our  Heavenly 
Father's  wisdom  and  goodness,  and  will  try  to  preserve  them  in 
accordance  with  your  wishes.  O,  be  assured,  I  never  doubted  that 
I  had  the  gratitude  and  affection  of  the  entire  colored  population 
of  the  United  States,  even  though  personally  unknown  to  so 
many  of  them ;  because  I  knew  that  upon  me  heavily  rested  the 
wrath  and  hatred  of  your  cruel  oppressors.  I  was  sure,  therefore, 
if  I  had  them  against  me,  I  had  you  with  me.  (Applause.)  But, 
as  it  is  now  time  to  organize  this  meeting,  it  will  not  be  proper 
for  me  to  go  on  with  these  remarks  any  further,  except  to  say 
that,  long  as  I  have  labored  in  your  behalf,  while  God  gives  me 
reason  and  strength  I  shall  demand  for  you  everything  I  claim  for 
the  whitest  of  the  white  in  this  country.     (Great  cheering.) 

Major  General  Saxton  rose  to  introduce  Senator  Wil- 
son,   and  was   greeted    with  three  cheers.      Gen.  Saxton 

said  : 

My  Friends — I  did  not  want  you  to  cheer  for  me  to- 
day. There  are  soldiers  in  your  cause  here  whose  hats  I 
am  not  worthy  to  hold,  for  they  have  been  a  great  while  in 
it.  It  is  my  happiness  to-day  to  introduce  to  you  an  honored 
Senator  from  a  noble  State  ;  my  own  loved  native  State,  Massa- 
chusetts ;  one  who  through  a  long,  able,  consistent  and  brilliant 
career  in  the  councils  of  the  nation,  has  fought  and  borne  his  testi- 
mony against  the  living  wickedness  of  human  slavery  ;  and  when, 
in  the  future  of  your  emancipated,  regenerate  and  regenerating 
race,  you  shall  read  the  record  of  its  downfall,  on  the  pages  of  its 
history  shall  shine  brightly  the  name  of  Henry  Wilson,  of  Massa- 
chusetts.    (Cheers.) 

Mr.  Garrison — I  wish  to  add  one  word  more.  I  am  delighted 
to  find  so  strong  a  representation  from  Massachusetts  in  South 
Carolina.  Of  all  the  States  in  the  Union,  it  is  to  her  credit  that 
she  has  always  been  the  most  hated  and  feared  by  the  slavehold- 
ing  South,  for  her  anti-slavery  spirit  and  tendencies.  Senator 
Wilson  has  ably  and  faithfully  sustained  her  reputation,  in  this 
particular,  in   Congress,  for  several  years  past ;  and  for  a  much 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  101 

longer  period  has  been  your  fearless  friend  and  advocate.  In  the 
days  of  its  deepest  darkness  and  greatest  perils,  he  unflinchingly 
supported  your  cause,  which  has  been  greatly  advanced  by  his 
example  and  testimony,  [lis  life  (as  well  as  Mr.  Sumner's)  has 
been  continually  imperilled  in  the  national  capital ;  so  that,  from 
session  to  session,  it  has  been  uncertain  whether  he  would  ever  be 
permitted  to  see  his  family  and  constituents  again.  He  has 
fought  a  good  fight,  and  deserves  to  be  crowned  with  laurels. 
He  began  his  career  as  a  humble  mechanic — one  of  the  "  mud  sills," 
of  whom  some  of  you  may  perhaps  have  heard.  He  has,  by  his 
own  merits,  worked  his  way  up  to  almost  the  highest  station  in 
the  land,  and  is  now  one  of  the  most  esteemed  and  justly  honored 
of  our  public  men.  Join  with  me  in  exclaiming,  God  bless 
Henry  Wilson,  of  Massachusetts  !     (Cheers.) 

Senator  Wilson  rose  amid  cheering,  and  after  it  bad  sub- 
sided said  : 

Men,  Women  and  Fkeedmen  of  Charleston,  and  of  South 
Carolina,  and  of  the  United  States— This  is  the  proudest  day 
of  my  life.  To  stand  here  on  the  soil  of  South  Carolina,  in  the 
home  of  the  rebellion,  on  the  platform  with  the  great  anti-slavery 
hero  of  our  country,  William  Lloyd  Garrison,  and  before  the 
freedmen  of  the  city  of  Charleston  !  (Great  cheering.)  For 
twenty-nine  years  in  private  life  and  in  public  life,  at  all  times 
and  on  all  occasions,  I  have  spoken  against  slavery,  voted  against 
slavery,  and  in  favor  of  the  freedom  of  every  man  that  breathes 
God's  air  or  walks  his  earth.  And  to-day,  standing  here  in  South 
Carolina,  I  feel  that  the  slave  power  we  have  fought  so  long  is 
under  my  heel;  (cheers)— and  that  men  and  women  held  in 
bondage  for  so  long  are  free  forevermore.  You  have  no  masters 
now.  (Cheers.)  You  know  no  master  but  Almighty  God. 
(Cheers.)  Slave  is  no  more  written  on  your  foreheads.  Allow 
no  man  hereafter  to  call  you  a  slave.  Spread  it  abroad  all  over 
South  Carolina,  that  the  black  men  of  South  Carolina  know  no 
master  now,  and  that  they  are  slaves  no  more  forever  (Great 
cheering.)     Abraham   Lincoln,   President  of  the   United  States 


102  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

(tremendous  cheering  and  waving  of  hats,  etc.)  with  twenty-five 
millions  of  freemen  by  his  side,  and  seven  hundred  thousand 
bayonets  behind  him,  has  decreed  it,  and  it  will  stand  while  the 
world  stands,  that  the  men  and  women  of  South  Carolina  can 
never  more  be  slaves.  They  have  robbed  your  cradles  ;  they 
have  sold  your  children ;  they  have  separated  husband  and  wife, 
father  and  mother  and  child.  (Cries  of  yes!  yes!  yes!)  They 
shall  separate  you  no  more.  (Hallelujah  !  Bless  the  Lord  !)  Let 
them  understand  it.  Here  to-day  I  proclaim  it.  I  want  the 
proud  and  haughty  chivalry  of  South  Carolina,  whom  I  have  met 
in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  to  know  it ;  I  want  them  one 
and  all  to  hear  me  to-day,  and  understand  what  I  say,  that  the 
black  men  and  the  black  women  of  South  Carolina  are  as  free  as 
they  are ;  and  further,  that  they  are  loyal  to  the  flag  of  the  coun- 
try, while  they  are  false  and  traitorous.  (Cheers.)  Let  them 
understand,  too,  that  we,  the  people  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
Government  of  the  United  States,  have  more  respect  for  a  loyal 
black  man  than  for  a  South  Carolina  white  traitor. 

Now  I  want  you  to  understand  these  things.  I  want  you  to 
walk  the  soil  of  South  Carolina  with  your  foreheads  to  the  skies, 
proud  and  erect,  conscious  that  you  are  freemen,  and  that  you  owe 
your  obligations,  not  to  the  master  of  the  palace,  but  to  the  low- 
est of  your  nation,  and  to  the  God  of  heaven.     (Cheers.) 

And  now,  understanding  that  being  your  position,  a  position  in 
which  you  are  placed  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  a 
position  in  which  you  will  be  backed  by  the  bayonets  of  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  if  it  ever  be  necessary  to  maintain 
your  freedom — standing  in  this  position,  forever  free,  you  and 
thousands  who  come  after  you,  remember,  oh,  remember,  the 
sacrifices  that  have  been  made  for  your  freedom,  and  be  worthy 
of  the  freedom  that  has  come  to  you  !  (Cheers.)  I  know  you 
will  be. 

Through  these  four  years  of  bloody  war,  you  have  been  always 
loyal  to  the  old  flag  of  the  country.  You  have  never  betrayed 
your  country ;  you  have  never  betrayed  the  Union  soldiers  fight- 
ing the  battles  of  the  country.     You  have  guided  them,  you  have 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  103 

cheered  them,  you  have  protected  them  all  through  the  country, 
and  you  have  proved  yourselves  worthy  the  great  occasion  in 
which  you  are  placed  by  the  slaveholders'  rebellion.  You  saw, 
four  years  ago,  the  flag  of  your  country  struck  down  from  Sum- 
ter— yesterday  you  saw  the  old  flag  go  up  again.  All  its  stars 
gleam  now  with  a  brighter  lustre.  You  know  now  what  the  old 
flag  means  ;  that  it  means  liberty  to  every  man  and  woman  in  the 
country.     (Cheers.) 

You  have  been  patient,  you  have  endured,  you  have  trusted  in 
God  for  your  liberties,  and  in  your  country ;  and  the  God  of  our 
fathers  has  blessed  our  country,  and  blessed  you  ;  and  now  you 
are  here,  the  country  is  saved,  the  great  army  that  carried  the 
arms  of  this  rebellion  has  surrendered  to  Gen.  Grant.  (Great 
cheers.)  The  long,  dreary  and  chilly  night  of  slavery  has  passed 
away  forevermore.  (Amen,  Amen,  Amen.)  and  the  star  of 
liberty  casts  its  broad  beams  upon  you  to-day.  Now  your  duties 
commence  with  your  liberties.  Remember  that  you  are  to  be 
obedient,  faithful,  true,  and  loyal  to  the  country  forevermore. 
(Cheers  and  cries  of  yes!  yes!  yes!)  Remember,  too,  that  you 
are  to  educate  your  children  ;  that  you  are  to  improve  their  con- 
dition ;  that  you  are  to  make  a  brighter  future  to  them  than  the 
past  has  been  to  you.  Remember  that  you  are  to  be  industri- 
ous ;  that  freedom  does  not  mean  that  you  must  not  work,  but  it 
means  that  when  you  do  work,  you  shall  have  pay  for  it  to  carry 
home  to  your  wives,  and  the  children  of  your  love.  Remember 
that  liberty  means  the  liberty  to  work  for  yourselves,  to  have  the 
fruits  of  it  to  better  your  own  condition,  and  improve  the  condi- 
tion of  your  children.  Respect  yourselves.  Feel  and  go  about 
on  earth  conscious  that  you  are  freemen.  Walk  like  freemen. 
Bow  and  cringe  to  nobody  on  earth.  Be  kind  and  humane  to 
each  other,  always  serving  each  other  when  you  can.  Be  courte- 
ous and  gentlemanly  to  everybody  on  earth,  black  and  white. 
(Cheers.)  But  let  those  men  who  have  held  the  lash  over  you  for 
so  many  years ;  let  the  men  who  plunged  the  nation  into  a  sea  of 
fire  and  blood,  let  them  understand  that  we  have  buried  a  quarter 
of  a  million  of  brave  men  to  save  our  liberty  and  maintain  yours. 


104  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEAN  US. 

Let  it  be  understood,  while  the  names  of  those  heroes  sound  in 
our  ears,  that  we  have  resolved  that  it  is  written  on  the  leaves  of 
our  Bibles,  and  sworn  on  bended  knee,  that  the  United  States  of 
America  shall  be  one  nation,  and  a  free  nation  forever.  (Great 
cheering.) 

You  have  helped  us  to  fight  our  battles.  You  have  taken  your 
muskets,  you  have  stood  by  the  old  flag,  you  have  given  us  your 
prayers,  you  have  had  your  heart's  desire  fulfilled.  We  have 
triumphed,  and  in  our  triumph  we  want  all  to  stand  up  and  re- 
joice together. 

I  want  every  man  and  every  woman  to  understand  here  that 
every  neglect  of  duty,  every  failure  to  be  industrious,  to  be 
economical,  to  take  care  of  your  families,  to  support  yourselves, 
to  secure  the  education  of  your  children  ;  all  these  things  will  be 
put  in  our  faces  as  a  reproach,  and  your  old  masters  will  point 
you  out  and  say,  "  We  told  you  so."  We  have  said  for  more 
than  thirty  years  you  were  fit  for  liberty.  We  have  maintained 
it  amid  obloquy  and  reproach,  and  in  the  halls  of  Congress  were 
made  a  by-word.  Now  your  masters  have  plunged  the  country 
into  war.  We  have  beaten  them  ;  we  have  whipped  them  ;  their 
power  is  broken,  and  it  is  lost  forever.  (Great  cheering.)  Now 
the  great  lesson  is  for  you  in  the  future  to  prove  that  we  were 
right  ;  to  prove  that  you  were  worthy  of  all  liberty  and  power 
yourselves.  As  you  have  used  the  bayonet,  prepare  yourselves 
for  the  future  so  that  you  can  use  the  ballot  in  the  cause  we  have 
maintained.     (Great  cheering.) 

I  see  around  me  true  and  noble  men  who  have  come  to  see  you 
in  South  Carolina.  I  know  you  will  be  glad  to  see  and  hear 
them,  for  they  will  speak  to-day  as  they  have  spoken  far  away 
when  the  task-master  stood  over  you.  They  come  to  look  upon 
you  as  freemen ;  they  have  been  your  champions,  and  will  be 
your  friends  in  future  difficulties.  We  simply  ask  you,  in 
the  name  of  your  friends,  in  the  name  of  the  country, 
by  your  good  conduct,  by  all  that  can  elevate  you  and 
improve  your  condition,  to  show  to  your  country,  to 
even    your   old    masters    and     mistresses,     to     everybody     the 


TRIP    OF   THE   OCEANUS.  105 

world  over,  that  it  was  a  sin  against  God,  a  crime  against  you 
to  hold  you  in  slavery  ;  to  show  that  you  were  worthy  to  have 
your  names  enrolled  among  the  freemen  of  the  United  States  of 
America.     (Great  cheering.) 

Judge  Kellet,  member  of  Congress  from  Pennsylvania, 
was  next  introduced  to  the  audience,  and  said  : 

Mr.  Chairman,  and  my  Friends — I  am  used  to  talking  to  pretty 
large  audiences,  and  talking  with  a  good  deal  of  freedom,  and  I  am 
not  often  confused  at  the  beginning ;  but  upon  my  word  I  do  not 
know  where  to  begin  to-day,  I  have  so  much  to  say  to  you. 

I  have  not  come  to  you  from  Massachusetts.  We  had  no  Wil- 
liam Lloyd  Garrison  to  keep  us  up  to  our  duty  conscientiously. 
I  come  from  Pennsylvania,  a  State — and  by  the  way,  I  hope  all 
Northern  men  here  will  note  the  fact,  for  it  shows  how  bad  it  is 
to  depart,  however  slightly,  from  a  great  principle— from  Penn- 
sylvania, which  was  the  first  to  abolish  slavery  by  legislative 
enactment  in  its  own  limits  ;  and  yet  under  the  influences  of  cor- 
rupt politicians,  forgot  its  first  love  of  freedom,  and  gave  as  a 
great  statesman,  a  President  to  the  United  States  in  James  Bu- 
chanan,  who,  as  President,  betrayed  the  country  in  the  name  of 
slavery,  and  consented  to  the  beginning  of  this  war.  (Groans.) 
A  State,  the  first  to  abolish  slavery,  to  make  every  man  on  its 
soil  a  citizen  ;  which,  in  1838,  instead  of  sowing  freedom,  deprived 
every  colored  man  within  its  limits  of  the  right  he  had  before  en- 
joyed to  citizenship  and  the  exercise  of  suffrage.  Bear  her  his- 
tory in  mind,  oh  !  ye  Northern  men,  and  determine  that,  in  begin- 
ning the  work  of  reconstruction,  we  will  make  no  departure  from 
the  requirements  of  absolute  justice,  and  that  we  will  decree  that 
every  man  upon  our  soil  shall  enjoy  all  the  rights  of  men  ;  that 
we  will  measure  for  others  by  the  standard  we  set  up  for  our. 
selves,  and  not  be  content  while  any  right  we  enjoy  is  withheld 
from  another. 

I  will  not,  my  colored  friends,  talk  to  you  about  the  past.  God 
knows  that  you  understand  it  all  too  well.  It  is  written  in  the 
depths  of  your  hearts  ;  it  is  with  you  in   the  morning  and  in   the 


106  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

evening.     When  the  dream  disturbs  your  soul,  it  is  by  reason  of 
the  wrongs  the  white  man  has  done  you. 

I  turn  to  the  hopeful  future  not  to  flatter,  though  I  might 
very  well  entertain  you  with  a  favorable  recital  of  your  deeds 
during  the  last  four  years,  but  to  remind  you  that,  though  it 
is  true  that  you  henceforth  have  no  earthly  master,  you  still  have 
a  master,  the  GREAT  BEING,  that  strengthened  and  guided  your 
eminent  friend  William  Lloyd  Garrison ;  (great  cheering,)  the 
Great  Being  that  trained  in  humble  poverty  and  simple-minded- 
ness, Abraham  Lincoln,  a  happy  moulder  of  America's  destiny  ; 
the  good  God  whose  stars  shine  together  over  the  slave's  hut  as 
well  as  over  your  master's  palaces.  His  laws  you  must  obey. 
You  must  worship  him  not  alone  at  the  altar,  but  in  every  act  of 
your  daily  life.  It  is  not  enough,  it  will  not  be  enough  that  you 
are  faithful  in  observing  the  Sabbath  ;  that  you  go  to  Him  with 
your  sorrow  ;  that  you  remember  Him  in  your  joys.  You  must 
remember  that  among  His  divine  laws  is  that  which  reaches  us 
all :  "  In  the  sweat  of  thy  brow  shalt  thou  eat  thy  bread."  Labor, 
labor,  is  the  law  of  all  ;  and  your  friends  in  the  North  appeal  to 
you  to-day  to  stand  by  them,  and  help  them  in  the  great  work 
they  undertook  to  do  for  you:  to  do  for  the  country  as  it  is  doing 
for  you. 

We  want  you  to  work  with  us,  and  we  want  you  to  do  it  by 
working  here  in  South  Carolina,  and  earning  wages,  taking  care  of 
your  money,  and  making  profit  out  of  that  money.  Work  on 
the  plantation,  if  that  is  all  you  can  do.  Work  in  the  workshop, 
if  you  can  do  it,  and  work  well.  He  who  does  a  day's  work,  and 
could  have  done  it  better,  has  cheated  himself.  Strive  that  your 
work  on  Monday  shall  be  better  done  than  it  was  on  Saturday  ; 
and  when  Saturday  comes  round  again,  you  shall  be  able  to  do  a 
more  skillful  day's  work. 

We  at  the  North  learn  three  or  four  trades  ;  and  when  one  of 
you  finds  that  you  can  do  better  for  himself  and  his  family  by 
changing  his  pursuit,  if  he  be  assured  of  it,  let  him  change  it.  We 
white  boys  at  the  North  do  not  care  much  about  being  born  to 
poverty.     We  don't  care  much  of  being  deprived  of  education,  in 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  107 

its  broader  sense,  in  early  life.  Why,  it  is  only  a  stimulus.  We 
run  a  race  against  a  rich  man's  son  carrying  weight,  and  when  we 
beat  him  under  the  weight  we  feel  the  prouder  for  it.  Thus  the 
truly  great  man  who  has  addressed  you  toiled  through  the  earlier 
years  of  his  manhood,  as  well  as  his  boyhood.  Yet  what  South 
Carolinian  of  the  last  generation  has  had  his  name  written  higher 
in  the  scroll  of  fame,  or  graven  more  deeply  in  the  hearts  of  the 
American  people,  than  that  of  Henry  Wilson,  of  Massachusetts. 
(Great  cheering.) 

The  humble  individual  who  now  addresses  you,  never  saw  the 
light  of  day  in  a  school-house  after  he  was  eleven  years  old  ;  and 
yet  I  know  boys  who  went  through  college,  whose  cases  I  have 
tried  as  a  judge,  and  whose  interests  I  have  represented  in  the 
Congress  of  my  country.  Now  remember  that  we  are  all  men, 
and  what  one  man  can  do  in  Massachusetts,  and  another  in 
Pennsylvania,  you  can  do  here  ;  and  though  the  colored  man  is 
not  allowed  to  vote  in  my  State,  I  think  I  will  write  to  my  elo- 
quent friend  here,  (Dickerson)  to  come  and  stump  the  district 
with  me  at  the  next  election.  1  think  he  would  show  some  of  my 
constituents  that  we  have  no  right  to  deprive  the  State  of  such 
intellectual  power  as  he  disclosed  this  morning.  We  have  no 
right,  my  white  brethren,  to  rob  the  commonwealth  of  such 
talent.     (Cheers.) 

I  do  like  to  look  at  these  women  here.  I  have  a  great  respect 
for  women;  my  mother  was  one,  you  know.  (Laughter.)  My 
wife  is  a  woman.  (Continued  laughter.)  But  when  1  was  not  an 
abolitionist,  while  I  was  under  the  delusion  that  the  old  slave- 
masters  used  to  teach,  that  you  were  little  better  than  brutes,  I 
never  read  or  heard  the  story  of  a  woman  being  outraged  that  my 
fingers  did  not  tingle,  and  my  blood  swell  from  my  heart  to  the 
throat.  You  are  to  be  the  mothers  or  wives  of  freemen's  homes, 
and  you  must  make  those  homes  happy.  You  are  to  be  the 
mothers  of  American  citizens.  You  must  strive  to  make  them 
intelligent,  educated,  moral,  patriotic  and  religious  men.  Many 
of  you  cannot  read.  You  are  not  too  old  yet,  and  the  mother  that 
can  read,  can  half  educate  her  own  child  by  helping  it  with  its  les- 


108  TRIP    OF    THE    OOEANUS. 

sons  ;  and  the  mother  that  has  little  learning  will  get  a  great  deal 
more  by  striving  to  hear  the  child's  lessons,  and  so  too,  with  the 
father.  See  to  it  that  yon  make  home  happy,  and  then  see  to  it 
that  the  good  man  makes  home  comfortable.  You  are  not  going 
to  live  in  a  slave  hut.  Work  industriously  ;  work,  be  true,  and 
then  see  that  the  carpet  on  your  floor  is  one  to  your  wife's  taste. 
You  can  get  at  the  conscience  and  heart  of  a  great  many  Northern 
men  who  now  think  of  you  only — may  I  be  pardoned  for  quoting 
the  language  in  this  sacred  building — as  "damned  niggers;"  you 
can  get  at  their  heart  and  conscience  right  straight  through  their 
pockets.  And  when  they  find  that  the  colored  farmer  wants  to 
buy  goods  from  them,  and  that  the  colored  tradesman  has  a  great 
deal  of  money  to  spend,  they  will  begin  to  think  that  you  are  Mr. 
John  Jenkins  and  Mr.  Joseph  Brown.  (Great  laughter.)  You 
arc  not  to  be  contented  with  the  common  schools  of  Charleston 
for  your  children. 

I  am  sorry  that  I  do  not  know  my  colored  friend's  name,  who 
spoke  this  morning.  (Cries  of  Dickerson,  Dickerson.)  Well,  if 
Dickerson  had  been  well  trained  in  his  youth,  and  put  in  a  good 
preparatory  school,  passed  through  that  with  honor  and  credit, 
and  then  entered  the  law  office  of  John  C.  Calhoun,  I  have  no 
doubt,  nor  can  any  one  who  heard  him,  doubt  that  he  would  have 
been  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of  South  Carolina  to- 
day. (Tremendous  cheers.)  You  may  as  well  pay  your  fees  in 
future  to  some  lawyer  Dickerson,  as  to  a  lawyer  with  a  fairer 
face,  and  I  have  no  doubt  in  the  world,  that  colored  physicians 
will  attend  your  women  with  as  perfect  attention,  as  the  kindest 
physician  in  the  State.  Just  now  you  are  to  give  your  children 
the  best  education  you  can.  Our  Northern  colleges  are  founded 
to  make  two  things  out  of,  reputation  and  money  for  the  Pro- 
fessors;  and  when  you  are  ready  to  send  four  or  five  hundred 
students  to  a  University,  you  will  find  the  University  will  be 
there  to  receive  them.  1  am  laying  out  a  pretty  big  job  for  you. 
It  is  not  a  bit  too  big.  Don't  you  know  that  colored  men  dis- 
tinguished themselves  in  a  harder  job  than  that  at  Battery 
Wagner,  at  Olustee,  and  almost  a  hundred  fields  of  battle  ?     You 


TRIP    OF   THE   OCEANUS.  109 

can  do  in  your  quiet  homes,  and  in  your  daily  life,  what  they  have 
done  upon  the  field.  Show  your  manhood  and  womanhood.  I 
am  only  asking  you  to  do  what  millions  have  done  before;  what 
you  too  might  have  done,  had  the  opportunity  offered. 

I  was  just  going  to  mention  one  of  your  number — one  whose 
name  has  been  sung  and  honored.  One  of  your  number  is  Cap- 
tain Small,  of  the  steamer  "  Planter."  He  took  part  in  the  celebra- 
tion yesterday.  I  heard  that  he  was  here.  If  he  is,  I  want  to  see 
and  know  him. 

[The  speaker  then  alluded  to  the  invasion  of  a  town 
in  Pennsylvania,  by  Early's  army  :  the  name  of  the  town 
we  failed  to   catch.] 

He  said  when  Early's  army  approached  the  town,  the  Burgess 
walked  out  eight  miles  to  surrender  the  town,  and  ask  for  its  pro- 
tection.    That  Burgess  was  David  Small. 

Robert  Small,  being  entrusted  with  a  steamer  and  steam 
engine,  which  it  was  never  supposed  he  could  ever  get  out,  did 
run  it  out,  and  did,  therefore,  make  the  circle  complete  for  yes- 
terday's celebration.  The  white  soldier  was  there,  the  white 
sailor  was  there,  and  the  black  soldier  and  the  black  sailor,  but 
they  were  there  under  white  command.  There  was  nothing  at 
all  to  show  that  the  negro  could  do  without  a  leader  ;  but  there 
came  the  "  Planter,"  which  Robert  Small,  the  black  man,  had  taken 
by  his  own  command  from  the  armed  State  of  South  Carolina, 
showing  that  your  race  have  enterprise,  energy,  capacity,  and 
may  be  trusted  to  go  alone,  at  least  on  steamboats.  (Cheers  and 
laughter.) 

But  I  am  detaining  you  too  long.  My  friends  from  the  North, 
these  are  to  be  our  fellow-citizens.  (Cheers.)  It  is  for  us  to  say 
how  soon,  and  to  use  all  our  influence  at  home.  I  thank  the  good 
God  that  he  has  so  interwoven  our  welfare  with  our  justice  to 
them,  that  if  we  do  not,  under  the  scourgings  we  have  received, 
do  justice  to  them  now  and  at  once,  his  plans  for  scourging  us 
further  are  already  disclosed.  There  is  such  a  thing  as  the  Con- 
federate debt.     How  much  it  amounts  to,  you  don't  know,  and  I 


110  TRIP   OF   THE   OCEANUS. 

can't  tell  you.  We  know  that  it  amounts  to  thousands  of  mil- 
lions of  dollars.  There  is,  in  my  judgment,  under  Providence, 
but  one  mode  of  preventing  the  early  assumption  of  that  debt 
by  the  United  States  Government,  and  that  is  to  protect  your- 
selves, and  the  loyal  citizens  all  over  the  South.  Let  me  give 
you  an  idea.  We  have  not  altered  the  spirit  of  the  rebels; 
we  have  not  converted  them  so  that  they  renounce  the  right 
of  a  State  to  secede.  They  still  hold  the  war  to  be  uncon- 
stitutional. Now,  if  we  confine  suffrage  to  the  white  man  alone, 
in  the  revolted  States,  every  Senator  and  every  Representative 
returned  to  Congress,  will  be  believers  in  the  doctrine  of  seces- 
sion, and  deniers  of  the  constitutional  right  of  coercing  States  to 
remain  in  the  Union.  Vallandigham,  Fernando  Wood,  and  the 
men  who  controlled  the  Chicago  Convention,  have  borne  con- 
tempt and  contumely  for  what  was  as  dear  to  them  as  the  apple 
of  their  eye  ;  aye,  have  been  four  years  in  maintaining  these  doc- 
trines ;  and  if  you  send  from  the  South  its  old  representatives  of 
secessionists,  and  yet  you  get  the  Northern  element  combined 
with  them,  they  will  refuse  to  provide  payment  for  the  interest  of 
the  Federal  debt,  unless  you  embrace  theirs  also.  And  they  will 
hold  by  the  pocket  or  its  equivalent,  the  throat  of  every  honor- 
able man,  who  refuses  his  bonds,  and  some  Northern  compromi- 
ser will  propose,  as  it  will  be  made  a  tax  on  the  industry  of  their 
Northern  friends,  that  both  debts  be  assumed  by  the  United 
States.  How  can  you  prevent  it?  Why,  educate  the  colored 
man ;  and  when  the  new  constitution  is  made,  see  that  the  col- 
ored man's  right  goes  with  it. 

Now,  my  friends,  I  have  shown  you  what  I  want  you  to  do. 
I  tell  you,  in  closing,  to  remember  that  in  earning  money  and 
saving  it,  and  gaining  education,  and  disclosing  your  moral 
virtues,  you  are  helping  us  to  vindicate  your  rights,  and  embody 
your  freedom  in  the  institutions  of  our  common  country.  (Long 
continued  cheering.) 

Three  cheers  were  also  given  for  Pennsylvania,  the  Keystone 
State.  The  congregation  then  sung  the  hymn,  "  Roll,  Jordan, 
roll,"  and  several  others. 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  Ill 

At  the  conclusion,  Mr.  Garrison  said  : 

Well,  my  friends,  this  is  worth  coming  from  Boston  to  see  and 
hear.  I  want  to  say  a  word  or  two  more,  before  we  separate,  but 
I  want  to  hear  some  others  before  I  shall  speak  to  you  again.  If 
they  occupy  all  the  time  it  will  be  very  well.  You  will  simply 
understand,  that  my  heart  is  with  you,  and  my  benediction.  But 
I  want  the  next  speaker  to  be  one  not  from  this  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  not  an  American  by  birth,  but  an  Englishman;  and 
better  than  that  still,  one  who  has  a  heart  as  wide  as  the  whole 
world,  one  to  whom  the  colored  race  is  as  much  indebted,  as  to 
any  man  living.  You  have  heard  of  the  slaves  in  the  West  India 
Islands.  There  were  eight  hundred  thousand  of  them.  Their 
chains  were  broken  long  ago,  and  for  many  years  they  have  been 
rejoicing  in  their  freedom.  They  had  many  friends  in  England, 
powerful  advocates  and  determined  supporters,  but  their  libera- 
tion under  God,  was  owing  as  much — shall  I  do  injustice  to  the 
living  or  dead — owing  more  to  the  noble  man  who  sits  on  this 
platform,  than  to  any  other  person  in  the  world — George 
Thompson. 

And  let  me  tell  you  that  when  I  was  in  England,  then  the 
chains  were  breaking  in  regard  to  the  slaves  of  the  West  India 
Islands.  Did  our  friend  then  say,  My  work  is  done.  I  said  to 
him,  "  But  we  have  yet  four  millions,  to  have  their  chains  broken 
in  the  United  States.  If  you  should  come,  you  will  be  buffeted, 
spit  upon,  and  scorned."  lie  thought  himself  it  would  reach  to 
that,  but  he  said  at  once,  "  I  will  give  myself  to  their  liberation, 
as  well  as  I  did  to  those  in  the  West  India  Islands,  in  1834."  He 
came,  came  over  to  be  buffeted,  scorned  and  persecuted,  and  was 
hunted  like  a  wild  beast,  because  he  pleaded  your  cause.  In 
every  town  he  was  mobbed.  Assassins  dogged  his  footsteps  on 
the  right  and  on  the  left ;  and  we,  his  friends,  were  compelled  to 
force  him  out  of  the  country,  to  save  his  life,  though  he  never 
thought  of  leaving  on  any  consideration.  He  is  here  to-day.  We 
became  acquainted  in  1833,  in  London  for  the  first  time,  and  have 
been  one  in  spirit  and  purpose  ever  since.  If  there  is  one  on 
this  globe  whom  I  love  and  revere,  it  is  George  Thompson,  the 


112  TRIP    OF   THE   OCEANUS. 

universal  advocate  of  universal  liberty  and  emancipation.    (Great 
cheering.) 

A  message  was  received  at  this  point  of  the  proceed- 
ings, from  the  Citadel  Square,  stating  that  a  large 
crowd  had  collected  there,  and  were  waiting  for  speak- 
ers. After  a  short  consultation,  Judge  Kellogg,  member 
of  Congress;  Joseph  Hoxie,  Rev.  Dr.  Leavitt  and  Major 
Delaney,  left  the  Church,  and  proceeded  to  the  Square 
to  address  the  crowds  there. 


Before  the  Freedmen  of  Charleston,  {8.   C.,)  in  Zion 
Church,  April  15,  1865. 

Hon.  George  Thompson,  on  being  introduced,  said  : 

This  is  a  great  day  for  me.  as  it  is  a  great  day  for  you.  You  are 
joyful,  and  I  am  joyful.  Your  cup  runneth  over,  so  does  mine. 
I  rejoice  because  I  have  remembered  you  in  bonds.  As  it  hap- 
pened with  you  when  in  bonds,  I  rejoice  with  you  to-day,  being 
in  freedom  as  I  also  am  free. 

This  is  a  jubilee,  a  spectacle,  on  which  God  and  the  holy  angels, 
and  the  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect,  look  with  approval. 

This  is  an  assembly,  that  commands  the  sympathy  of  all  the 
wise  and  good  throughout  the  world.  I  can  scarcely  believe  it 
true,  that  I  stand  upon  a  platform  or  pulpit  in  the  city  of  Char- 
leston, in  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  having  before  me  the  in- 
spiring, magnificent  spectacle  of  between  three  and  four  thousand 
persons,  who  but  yesterday  were  things,  to-day  are  men  and 
women.  (Cheers.)  It  is  hard  to  believe,  that  I  am  at  once  in 
the  cradle  and  the  grave  of  treason,  secession  and  slavery. 
(Cheers.)  But  yet  I  believe  it  is  true;  for  since  I  came  into  your 
city,  1  have  performed  all  the  functions  appertaining  to  a  living, 
working  man.     I  have  walked,  talked,  ate  and  drank. 

What  shall  I  say  to  you  now  that  I  am  here  ?      To  me  it  has 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANU8.  113 

been  given  to  see  two  great,  pure,  signal,  glorious  triumphs 
effected.  To  me  it  has  been  given  the  unspeakable  privilege  of 
being  a  co-laborer  with  Wilberforce  and  Clarkson,  who  led  the 
way  in  the  great  struggle  for  British  abolition — the  abolition  of 
the  infernal  slave  trade,  and  its  child — slavery. 

To  me,  also,  it  has  been  given  to  see  their  triumph  ;  to  see 
them  go  up  to  heaven,  presenting  at  the  throne  of  heavenly  grace, 
a  million  of  broken  manacles,  and  Africa  redeemed  from  her 
English  spoiler. 

Now  it  is  my  privilege  to  be  the  co-worker  and  companion  in 
joy  of  the  Wilberforce  of  America — William  Lloyd  Garrison. 
For  thirty  years  and  more  my  heart  has  been  with  you ;  with  you 
on  the  plantation,  with  you  on  the  auction-block,  with  you  in 
your  unrequited  toil,  with  you  in  your  sufferings,  separations,  and 
scourgings;  and  now  I  am  with  you  in  your  freedom.  (Cheers.) 
You  are  no  more  slaves  of  these  States,  for  God  created  all  his 
children  free.  A  little  while  ago,  I  could  say  of  my  own  country, 
but  not  of  this  : 

"  Slaves  cannot  breathe  in  England.    If  their  lungs 
Inhale  our  air,  that  moment  they  are  free.'" 

Little  did  I  think  that  on  this  15th  of  April,  1865,  I  should  be 
able  to  stand  in  the  centre  of  the  city  of  Charleston,  South  Car- 
olina, and  say  slaves  cannot  breathe  in  America.  They  touch 
this  country's  soil,  their  shackles  fall,  and  they  stand  redeemed, 
free  forever.  (Cheers.)  The  excellent  member  of  Congress  from 
Pennsylvania,  has  been  talking  to  you  of  the  future,  of  what  its 
rights  and  its  duties  will  be.  And  it  is  to  me  a  matter  of  sincere 
gratification,  that  you  have  pleading  your  cause  to-day,  and  plead- 
ing it  no  less  earnestly  elsewhere,  and  in  the  high  places  of 
your  republic,  men  of  that  excellent  representative  State,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

My  counsel  to  you  would  be,  co-operate  with  those  excellent 
men.  They  want  not  only  to  make  you  personally  free,  your 
bodies  as  well  as  the  fruit  of  them,  but  they  wish  that  you  should 
be  clothed  with  the  privileges  and  rights  of  citizenship. 

Now,  many   objections  will  be  urged  to  the  granting  of  this 


114  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

right,  though  it  is  your  right  according  to  the  very  principles 
upon  which  the  nationality  of  this  country  rests.  And  though 
those  scruples  may  be  removed  and  prejudices  conquered,  that  the 
hands  of  your  friends  may  be  strengthened,  see  that  by  your  own 
conduct  you  justify  all  that  your  friends  say  in  reference  to 
your  fitness  and  capacity,  not  only  to  exercise  those  rights,  but 
that  power  which  belongs  to  citizens  of  the  United  States.  You 
are  citizens.     But  yesterday  you  were  not  even  regarded  as  men. 

You  were  human  beasts  of  burden;  you  were  animated,  two- 
legged  hoeing  machines ;  you  were  bought  and  sold  like  beasts  of 
burden. 

But  you  are  transformed  into  men  and  women,  equal  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  for  he  is  a  man  and  no  more, 
and  each  of  you  of  the  male  sex  is  a  man,  and  no  less. 
Every  principle  upon  which  your  government  was  founded,  re- 
gards you  as  equally  entitled,  with  Abraham  Lincoln  himself,  to 
exercise  the  rights  and  privileges  of  citizenship.  Now  you  have 
to  be  obedient  to  the  laws.  And  the  leading  members  of  Con- 
gress are  with  you.  The  praying  people  of  the  North 
are  with  you.  This  you  know.  They  sought  you  with 
their  prayers,  while  you  were  yet  slaves,  while  yet  secluded. 
Since  Generals  Grant  and  Sherman,  and  Sheridan  and  Banks, 
have  given  them  permission  to  traverse  the  coast  and  soil  of  this 
country,  they  have  come  down  to  you  in  the  shape  of  teachers, 
who  have  been  appointed  to  administer  to  your  temporal  and 
physical  wants,  and  prove  that  the  North  is  awake,  and  has  put 
on  the  garments  of  repentance,  trying  to  make  restitution  to  you, 
in  that  they  saw  the  anguish  of  your  souls.  God  also  is  with  you. 
He  has  been  raising  the  storm  that  has  shaken  this  land  ;  he  has 
directed  the  whirlwind.  He  has  decreed  that,  ere  yet  these 
States  are  one,  ere  yet  the  Constitution  is  established  in  its 
former  extent,  the  slave  shall  be  free,  and  justice  satisfied. 

America  tried  the  experiment  in  1789,  of  establishing  upon 
this  continent  a  Government,  founded  upon  a  compromise  of 
human  rights.  It  founded  a  Government,  on  complexional  dif- 
ferences.    It  built  a  temple  to  liberty,  and  called  upon  the  world 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  115 

to  admire,  aye,  upon  all  its  tribes  but  one,  to  enter  into  it.  It 
shut  out  one  class,  and  that  was  your  class.  There  was  no  place 
for  the  negro  there.  The  ordinary  term  of  a  human  life  has  gone 
by.  Where  is  the  Union  now  1  Slavery  has  betrayed  and  dis- 
membered it. 

The  old  edifice  will  have  at  least  to  be  raised  upon  a  popular, 
more  solid,  and  more  enduring  foundation.  Now  is  the  time. 
Let  the  fundamental  law  upon  which  this  republic  shall  rise,  be 
the  immutable  law  of  right.  If  not,  as  the  first  temple  has  fallen, 
so  shall  the  second.  Sound  policy,  as  well  as  duty,  dictates  to 
the  people  of  this  country,  that  they  should  base  their  Union 
upon  a  righteous  principle. 

What  is  it  we  who  come  from  Europe,  ask  the  people  of 
America  to  do?  What  was  my  cry  when  I  came  here  more  than 
thirty  years  ago  ?  Did  I  come  seeking  money  of  the  Govern- 
ment? No!  My  message  to  the  people  of  this  country,  was 
simply  to  loose  the  bands  of  wickedness,  and  let  the  oppressed  go 
free.  That  was  my  message.  Say  unto  my  people,  break  every 
yoke.     I  said  it  was  for  the  interest  of  all  to  do  right. 

I  have,  for  the  last  fourteen  months,  and  more,  been  traveling 
over  the  North.  But  what  a  revolution  has  taken  place  there  ! 
Thirty  years  ago,  America  vomited  me  out  of  her  mouth.  She 
spewed  me  forth,  and  drove  me  from  her  shores  as  a  disturber,  a 
fire-brand,  an  incendiary. 

During  the  thirty  years  that  have  elapsed  between  my 
first  and  last  visit,  a  revolution  has  taken  place  at  the  North. 
I  left  the  colleges  on  the  side  of  slavery.  I  returned  and 
found  the  coleges  on  the  side  of  liberty.  I  left  America, 
when  there  was  but  one  man  in  the  house  of  Congress, 
who  dared  to  present  an  anti-slavery  petition.  I  returned,  and 
found  scarce  a  man  in  Congress,  who  would  not  deem  himself 
honored  by  being  selected  to  present  such  a  petition.  I  left 
America,  with  the  newspapers  of  the  country,  and  the  literature 
of  the  country  on  the  side  of  slavery.  I  returned,  and  found  the 
newspapers  and  literature,  the  best  and  most  popular  works  pub- 
lished in  the  country,  on  the  side  of  freedom.     I  find  the  man  who 


116  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

towers  the  highest  in  the  estimation  of  the  people  of  the  North,  is 
the  man  most  earnestly,  most  sincerely,  most  uncompromisingly 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  freedom,  of  universal — impartial  freedom. 

I  left  America  with  the  government  itself  on  the  side  of  slavery, 
— a  slaveholder  in  the  chair,  and  slaveholders  ruling  by  them  in 
the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives.  Slaveholders  had  a 
great  representation.  Slaveholders  governed  East  and  West, 
North  and  South.  They  were  not  only  lords  on  their  own 
plantations,  not  only  rulers  of  these  sunny  estates  of  the  South, 
but  absolute  tyrants  over  the  whole  country.  And  I  was  sensible, 
in  fine  more  sensible  of  slavery  at  Washington,  than  I  am  now 
sensible  of  the  existence  of  slavery  at  the  South. 

Instead  of  Andrew  Jackson  of  Tennessee,  a  slaveholder,  in  the 
chair,  I  find,  when  the  men  appointed  had  to  select  a  Chief  Magis- 
trate, they  passed  over  the  heads  of  all  the  slaveholders  of  this 
continent.  They  did  not  even  select  one  of  the  greatest  in  elo- 
quence, the  best  versed  in  political  chicanery,  but  they  selected 
one  of  humble  origin,  born,  it  is  true,  in  a  slave  State,  but  a  self- 
made  man  in  a  free  State,  a  rail-splitter,  a  patriot  soldier,  honest 
Abraham  Lincoln. 

All  the  dominant,  overruling  elements  are  enlisted  on  your 
side.  The  great  majority  of  the  North  have  declared  solemnly, 
in  National  Convention  assembled,  that  slavery  has  been  the 
cause  of  this  late  rebellion.  They  say  it  is  adverse  to  republican 
institutions,  and  therefore  must  be  utterly  and  forever  abolished 
on  this  soil.  All  the  elements  to-day  are  in  your  favor.  Spread 
your  sails,  and  catch  the  auspicious  breeze  !  Your  President  is 
with  you  in  sympathy,  in  purpose,  in  the  exercise  of  those  large 
powers  with  which  he  is  entrusted.  He  has  spoken  the  word, 
and  will  not  be  content  until  that  word  is  incarnated  with  the 
freedom  of  every  slave  in  the  United  States. 

In  our  notice  of  this  meeting,  we  cannot  do  better 
than  give  place  to  the  following  paragraph,  from  the 
pen  of  Rev.   A.   P.   Putnam  : 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANU8.  117 

.  "  The  enthusiasm  of  that  assembled  multitude,  at  the 
.first  mention,  by  one  of  the  speakers,  of  the  name  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  was  such  as  to  defy  description.  It 
was  intense,  wild  and  almost  fearful.  The  vast  crowd 
cheered  and  waved  their  handkerchiefs,  some  screaming 
for  joy,  and  others  raising  their  hands  and  clasping 
them  in  gratitude  to  God,  and  hundreds  weeping  the 
tears  they  could  not  repress,  as  they  thought  of  their 
great  friend  and  benefactor.  How  little  did  any  of  us 
dream  that  on  that  very  morning,  he  lav  silent  in 
death  at  Washington.  Who  can  tell  what  anguish  of 
soul,  the  dread  tidings  will  carry  to  the  millions  of 
God's  poor  at  the  South  who  have  learned  to  love  him, 
as  their  great  and  good  deliverer.  Heaven  comfort 
their  hearts,  and  grant  that  the  President's  successor 
may   also   prove  their  father  and   friend. 

"Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  praise  of  Gen.  Saxton, 
who  is  in  command  of  that  department.  Faithful,  vigi- 
lant, loyal  and  true  to  freedom,  he  commands  the  con- 
fidence of  the  Government,  at  Washington,  and  the  ad- 
miration and  sympathy  of  every  patriot,  white  or  black, 
within  the  limits  of  his  jurisdiction." 

As  it  was  not  the  good  fortune  of  the  writer  to  be 
present  at  this  inside  meeting,  he  gives  the  above  able 
reports  of  the  speeches,  by  the  reporter  of  the  "  Char- 
leston Courier;'  and  the  account  of  the  subsequent  ex- 
ercises, as  written  by  Mr.  A.  M.  Powell,  the  correspond- 
ent of  the  JNT.  Y.  Tribune. 

He  says:  " Judge  Kelly  spoke   to   them,   as  he  has   in 

8 


118  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

Congress,  and  elsewhere  spoken  for  them ;  of  the  res- 
ponsibility of  citizens,  which  they  are  to  assume,  or 
should  assume  in  the  new  government,  to  be  established 
in  the  South.  This  point  too,  was  well  made  by  each  of 
the  other  speakers.  He  spoke  of  the  need  and  value  of  in~ 
dustry,  to  improve  their  homes,  and  to  secure  education 
and  its  advantages,  for  themselves  and  their  children. 

"The  addresses  of  Messrs.  Thompson  and  Tilton  were 
exceedingly  well  adapted  to  the  occasion,  and  fully 
worthy  of  those  gentlemen.  It  was  a  great  meeting, 
and  will  mark  distinctly  the  beginning  of  a  new  era. 
Mr.  Eedpath  told  them  of  Wendell  Phillips,  whom  they 
much  wanted  to  see  and  hear,  and  they  voted  to  invite 
Mr.  Phillips,  to  address  them  in  Charleston,  on  the  4th 
of  July  next.  They  voted  with  an  emphasis  so  loud 
and  strong,  that  Mr.  Phillips  might  well  nigh  have 
heard  it  in  Boston.  Their  invitation  was  extended  also 
to  the  American  Anti-Slavery  Society,  and  to  Frederick 
Doudass,    to    meet    with    them    on    the    next    national 


anniversary." 


AN    OUTSIDE    MEETING. 

"  Outside  of  the  Church,  while  the  meeting,  of  which 
I  have  spoken  was  in  progress,  the  Rev.  Theodore  L. 
Cuyler,  of  Brooklyn,  addressed  a  very  interesting  gather- 
ing, of  about  2000  children.  They  commissioned  him  to 
write  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  invite  him  to  visit  them  in 
Charleston.  Young  and  old,  seemed  everywhere  to  re- 
gard Mr.  Lincoln  as  a  father  and  friend;  whom  their 
masters  hated  so  much,  they    seem  to  feel   that  they  can 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  119 

trust.  Another  meeting,  at  the  same  time,  immense  in 
numbers,  upon  Citadel  Square,  was  addressed  by  Judge 
Hoxie,  of  New  York,  a  Senator  from  Michigan,  Major 
Delaney,  and  others.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  a 
large  procession  was  formed,  with  bands  of  music,  and 
paraded  the  streets.  It  was  a  great  oecasion  for  Char- 
leston." 

It  was  with  reference  to  this  procession,  without 
doubt,  that  Mr.   Cuyler  wrote  to  the  "Evangelist." 

"On  Saturday  morning  last,  I  was  standing  in  front 
of  St.  Michael's  Church,  with  Wm.  Lloyd  Garrison. 
Just  then  the  band  of  the  127th  Regiment  eame  down 
Meeting  Street,  playing  Old  John  Brown,  most  su- 
perbly. 

"'  Only  listen  to  that  in  Charleston  streets!1  exclaimed 
Garrison,  and  we  both  broke  into  tears.  I  had  many 
such  startling  and  almost  incredible  surprises,  during  my 
visit.  For  example  I  stood  with  Ward  Beecher,  Gar- 
rison, George  Thompson,  the  English  Reformer,  and 
Theodore  Tilton,  beside  the  grave  of  John  C.  Calhoun, 
in  St.  Phillip's  Churchyard.  It  is  a  plain  brick  oblong 
tomb,  covered  with  a  marble  slab,  and  bearing  the 
single  word  ' Calhoun.'  'There,'  said  Garrison,  lies 
a  man  whose  name  is  decayed  worse  than  his  moulder- 
ing form;  the  one  may  have  a  resurrection,  the  other 
never!'  Several  northern  shells,  have  fallen  and  burst 
near  that  tomb !  Did  none  of  the  bones  in  that  sepul- 
chre rattle,  when  the  voice  of  William  Lloyd  Garrison, 
was  heard  at  the  grave's  mouth?" 


120  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

Leaving  now  the  records  of  these  wonderful  "  Freed- 
men's  Meetings,"  with  the  regret  that  we  have  not  all 
the  addresses  upon  that  memorable  occasion,  reported 
in  foil,  we  return  to  explorations  and  incidents  in  other 
parts  of  the  city. 

We  may  first  notice  however,  that  the  "  Citadel "  it- 
self, together  with  the  famous  Orphan  Asylum,  is  now 
used  as  a  barrack  for  colored  troops,  who  flock  into 
our    army    at    the    rate  of   about    one   hundred    per  day. 

The  splendid  marble  Custom  House,  which  was  in 
process  of  erection  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war, 
though  standing  on  the  margin  of  the  harbor,  es- 
caped the  iron  missiles  with  but  little  damage.  It  is 
now  being  stored  with  the  confiscated  cotton  which  is 
rapidly    arriving. 

The  long  Market  extending  from  Meeting  street  to 
the  harbor  gives  evidence,  at  the  upper  end,  of  the 
revival  of  business.  The  stalls  are  rented  by  negroes 
and  Germans  for  $1  per  week,  where  they  carry  on 
the  meat  business  in  a  small  way,  and  making  a  bare 
livelihood.  Very  little  money  is  in  circulation  yet. 
Confederate  notes  were  bought  by  the  bushel  at  a 
nominal  price,  and  carried  away  as  curiosities  by  our 
steamer's   company. 

We  found"  the  price-list  lower  than  in  New  York, 
though  it  must  be  confessed  that  the  quality  of  the 
meat  was  also   decidedly  lower. 

Sirloin  steak  sold  for  25  cents  a  pound ;    Mutton  from 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  121 

20  to  25  cents;  Yeal,  25  cents;  Butter,  65  cents;  Lard, 
30  cents  ;  Cheese,  25  cents. 

"  In    Federal    money,  we  presume,"  we  said. 

"  Certainly,"  replied  the   ebony  salesman. 

"  But  how  much  in  Confederate  currency  ?" 

"  Oh,    sar,  we   better  gib    it  to   you,    sar !" 

Potatoes  and  green  peas  were  abundant,  and  we 
were  told  that  strawberries  would  be  in  market  in  a 
few  days.  Behind  some  of  the  stalls  were  well-dressed 
and  handsome  mulatto  girls,  having  bouquets  of  choice 
flowers  for  sale.  Advancing  toward  the  river,  the  mar- 
ket became  more  and  more  deserted,  and  the  stalls 
entirely  empty. 

St.  Michael's  Church,  with  its  tall  tower,  which  had 
been  a  target  for  the  Federal  gunners,  was  viewed  with 
much  interest.  A  large  shell  hole  adorns  the  middle  of 
the  tower,  while  another  through  the  rear  wall,  let 
daylight  into  the  darkened  sanctuary,  demolished  the 
altar,  and,  according  to  Mr.  Cuyler,  "broke  the  com- 
mandments, graven  on  tables  of  stone,  the  discrimina- 
ting missile  sparing  the  three  commandments,  "  Thou 
shalt  not  steal— thou  shalt  not  kill— thou  shalt  not 
commit  adultery— the  very  precepts  that  Charleston 
needed  most."  We  trust  that  shell  will  receive  full 
absolution,  since  that  was  its  first  and  last  offense 
against  the  commandments.  Seven  of  the  bells  belong- 
ing to  the  chime  of  this  Church  were  melted  into  can- 
non on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  metal. 

Another    Church,    whose    name    we    do    not    recollect, 


122  TRIP    OF   THE     OCEAN  US. 

had    been    very    rudely  handled,   being   but   little    better 
than  a  crumbling  ruin. 

The  little  "  Church  of  the  Huguenots,"  in  semi-Gothic 
style,  attracted  the  observation  of  all.  It  is  built  of 
greyish  stone,  and  stands  in  the  midst  of  a  rural  kirk- 
vard,  which  must  once  have  possessed  great  beauty. 
There  the  tall  trees  still  wave  over  mossy  and  moulder- 
ing graves,  ploughed  by  cannon  shot,  and  slabs  broken 
by  the  exploding  shell.  In  their  branches  were  singing 
the  mocking  birds  as  in  other  days,  and  in  their  dense 
shadow  still  bloomed  the  wild-brier  rose  and  trailing 
jassmine.  A  cow  was  browsing  from  the  mounds  of 
the  graves,  and  as  we  stood  musing  upon  the  devasta- 
tion of  war,  and  the  awful  retribution  which  has  come 
upon  the  devoted  city,  two  carrion  crows,  with  hoarse 
and  dissonant  cawing,  rose  out  of  the  boughs  above  our 
heads ;  and,  napping  their  great  white-tipped  wings,  flew 
lazily  across  the  street  and  perched  upon  a  lofty  dwel- 
ling. Alas!  thought  we,  the  crows  and  buzzards  sitting 
on  ruined  towers  and  spires,  dressed  in  deepest  black, 
are  almost  the  only  mourners  over  the  scathed  and 
blasted  city  ! 

The  interior  of  the  Church  is  sadly  ruined.  Two 
immense  holes  upon  either  side,  just  beneath  the  cor- 
nice, show  where  the  destroyers  entered.  The  chande- 
liers were  struck  and  shivered,  whole  tiers  of  pews 
were  torn  up,  and  the  walls  frightfully  scarred.  Piles 
of  stones  and  wood  and  rubbish  lie  about  the  floors. 
Prayer  books   and  hymn    books,  cushions,  dirt    and  dust 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEAN  US.  123 

complete  the  scene  of  confusion.  Happily,  the  marble 
tablets,  with  their  inscriptions  in  French  and  English, 
have  been  spared.  However  just  one  might  feel  all  this 
punishment  to  be,  it  would  be  impossible  to  exult  over 
such  a  spectacle. 

Nearly  opposite  the  "  Church  of  the  Huguenots,'"  is 
the  old  "Planter's  Hotel,"  long  siuce  rendered  unin- 
habitable. It  was  fairly  riddled.  Since  the  occupation 
of  the  city  by  our  forces,  permission  has  been  given  to 
Mrs.  Eliza  Havens  to  live  in  its  rooms,  and  teach  her 
little   school. 

This  woman  was  born  at  the  North,  has  lived  in 
Charleston  twenty  years,  and  throughout  the  entire  war, 
was  a  declared  and  unflinching  Unionist.  She  has  suf- 
fered incredible  hardships,  having  been  twice  shelled 
from  her  house  by  day,  and  once  at  night ;  threatened 
with  imprisonment  and  death,  robbed  of  all  property — 
some  $12,000  at  the  beginning  of  the  war — and  re- 
duced to  actual  beggary.  We  found  her  standing  at 
the  door  of  the  Hotel,  very  meanly  dressed,  and  bear- 
ing every  mark  of  suffering  upon  her  countenance. 
She  gave  us  the  most  cordial  welcome.  She  declares 
that  the  old  flag  has  always  been  "  her  soul's  delight," 
and  that  she  often  sang  "  The  Star  Spangled  Banner " 
in  the  streets  of  Charleston,  with  her  enemies  on  every 
side.  How  trustworthy  these  statements  may  be,  we 
leave  others  to  judge.  Upon  stating  the  case  to  the 
passengers  in  the  evening,  a  purse  of  $25  was  raised 
for    her ;    which,  added    to    contributions    by    the    kindly 


124  TKIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS. 

Mr.  Edward  Ball  and  others,  made  the  sum  of  $35 — 
sufficient  for  present  exigencies.  Her  case  was  referred 
for  further  investigation  to  our  worthy  Mayor,  who 
was  to   remain   in  the  city   a   few   days   longer. 

The  "  Charleston  Hotel"  was  the  only  one  open  at 
that  time,  and  was  kept  by  Mr.  J.  P.  Stetson,  brother 
of  the  present  proprietor  of  the  Astor  House,  New 
York.  It  was  crowded  during  our  sojourn  to  over- 
flowing,   and   its  tables  were  said   to  be   inviting. 

The    "  Mills  House"    was  utterly   tenantless. 

The  u  Circular  Church,"  or  all  that  remains  of  it, 
was  interesting  only  from  the  fact,  that  within  it,  the 
first  secession  sermon  was  preached.  Nothing  but  por- 
tions of  its  walls,  and  half  of  the  tower  remain. 
Within,  the  enclosure  is  overgrown  with  grass  and  weeds, 
upon  which   cattle  would  find   good  browsing. 

Next  to  it  is  the  ruin  of  "Institute  Hall,"  of  which 
scarcely  one  stone  or  brick  is  left  upon  another.  Here 
the  "  Ordinance  of  Secession"  was  passed  by  five  hun- 
dred majority.  Here  also  the  Convention  was  held 
which  nominated  Stephen  A.  Douglass  for  the  Presi- 
dency. Passing  down  Hayne  street,  we  came  to  the 
"  Ration  House,"  or,  as  it  is  called  by  the  proprietor, 
"  The  Invalid's   Commissary." 

Standing,  sitting  and  lying  around  the  entrances,  were 
hundreds  of  poor  freedmen  and  women,  in  every  stage 
of  raggedness, — waiting  their  turn  to  be  served.  Elbow- 
ing our  way  through  this  heterogeneous  crowd,  we  en- 
tered the   immense  stores   of  Mr.   George   W.   Williams. 


si   « 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEAAUS.  125 

We  found  this  gentleman  superintending  his  work.  He 
is  of  medium  size,  long,  sandy,  curling  hair,  and  benign 
countenance,  and  received  us  with  great  cordiality.  His 
stores,  divided  by  a  central  partition,  with  a  large  space 
for  inter-communication,  contain  in  the  right  apartment, 
hundreds  of  bags  of  rice,  corn,  meal  and  grits,  and  in 
the  other,  the  large  bins  in  which  these  are  emptied  for 
distribution.  The  needy  recipients  enter,  one  at  a  time, 
receive  a  ticket  at  the  counter,  and  on  presenting  it. 
with  their  little  bags,  are  served  with  a  peck,  or  half  a 
peck,  of  rice  or  grist.  We  stood  and  watched  these  beg- 
gared people.  It  was  a  pitiful  sight — children,  old  men 
and  women,  of  every  shade,  came  eagerly  up  and  held 
out  their  bags  for  the  ration.  One  girl,  of  excessive 
blackness,  and  more  completely  tatterdemalion,  than  any 
we  had  seen,  presented  her  ticket  for  one  half  peek  of 
rice.  The  negro  filled  her  bag,  and  she  went  out.  Im- 
mediately following  her,  was  a  woman  of  thirty-rive 
years,  perfectly  white,  of  haggard  countenance,  and 
dressed  in  rusty  black.  She  advanced,  held  out  her 
ticket  for  a  peck  of  rice,  and  received  it.  As  she 
turned,  she  said  : 

"  Can't  you  give  me  a  little  mlt  to-day  V 
"  We  haven't  any  salt  left,"  replied  the  waiter. 
With    a   sigh,    she    left   the    store.       Turning   towards 
Mr.  Williams,  in  our  surprise,  we  asked. 

"  What  is  that  white  woman  doing  here  ?" 

"  My   dear   sir,"    replied    Mr.  W.,    "  that    woman,    four 


126  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEAN  ITS. 

years  ago,  was  worth  half  a  million  dollars,  and  lived 
in  a  line  mansion  on  the  Battery." 

He  then  stated  the  fact  before  mentioned,  that  the 
cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Charleston,  comes  every  day  to 
his  store,  to  get  his  peck  of  rice  or  meal. 

At  oar  request,  Mr.  Williams  wrote  out  a  brief  state- 
ment, concerning  his  work,  which  he  brought  to  the 
"  Oceanus,"  just  before  we  sailed.  It  cannot  fail  to  in- 
terest all  our  readers,  and  we  therefore  transcribe  it  in 
full. 

STATEMENT    OF    MR.    GEO.    S.  WILLIAMS. 

"  Since  the  occupation  of  Charleston,  by  the  U.  S. 
troops,  about  three  million  pounds  of  provisions,  con- 
sisting of  rice,  grist,  meal  and  salt,  have  been  issued 
to  the  poor  and  needy  citizens  of  Charleston,  of  all 
classes,  colors  and  conditions.  Many  who  were  con- 
sidered millionaires,  a  few  years  since,  are  reduced  by 
the  war,  to  want,  penury  and  beggary,  and  are  to  be 
seen  carrying  their  bags  of  rations  through  the  streets 
of  Charleston. 

"  The  Confederate  Government,  in  oue  way  aud  an- 
other, absorbed  all  the  capital  of  the  banks,  and  various 
monied  institutions,  of  the  city  and  state.  The  failure 
of  Jeff.  Davis  &  Co.,  necessarily  breaks  the  monied  in- 
stitutions, on  which  the  people  relied  for  support.  The 
large  amount  of  provisions  being  issued,  was  accumula- 
ted by  the  city  and  Confederate  authorities. 

"  Geo.  W.  Williams,  one  of  the  aldermen  of  the  city, 
and  chairman  of  the  Subsistence  Committee,  has  devoted 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  127 

his  whole  time  for  the  past  two  years  to  distributing 
this  food  to  the  poor. 

"  The  Confederate  authorities,  turned  over  to  him  all 
the  stores  owned  by  them,  to  be  distributed  under  direc- 
tion  of  the  City   Council,  to  the  poor  of  Charleston. 

"  A  large  amount  of  these  supplies,  was  destroyed  in 
the  burning  of  the  cotton,  and  the  explosion  at  the 
North  East  Railroad  Depot.  On  the  landing  of  the 
Union  forces,  Mr.  Williams  furnished  Col.  Bennet,  with 
a  list  of  the  stores,  and  secured  a  guard  to  protect  them. 
These  supplies  were  taken  possession  of  by  the  U.  S. 
Government,  and  turned  over  to  a  committee  of  three, 
to  be  distributed  to   the  poor  of  Charleston  and  vicinity. 

"  The  large  storehouses  of  Geo.  W.  "Williams  &  Co.,  on 
Hayne  Street,  are  used  as  a  depot  for  distributing 
rations.  Tickets  are  issued  to  needy  families,  two-thirds 
being  colored ;  and  thousands  of  the  recipients  are  to 
be  seen  daily  wending  their  way  to  the  '  Invalid's  Com- 
missary,' for  food. 

"  These  supplies  will  soon  be  exhausted,  and  then  What 
will  become  of  this  helpless  and  suffering  people?  A 
number  of  tickets  have  been  issued  to  colored  people, 
who  have  reached  their  four  score  and  twenty,  (five 
score  or  100  ?)  This  class  of  citizens,  are  supplied  at 
their  own   homes." 

The  importance  of  the  question  asked  by  Mr.  Wil- 
liams, can  hardly  be  over-estimated.  These  poor  de- 
pendent people  cannot  be  left  to  starvation,  and  at 
present    there  is  little  which  can  employ  their  hands  in 


128  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEAN  US. 

the  way  of  industry.  We  spent  much  time  in  sounding 
their  disposition,  now  that  they  are  free.  Not  one  ex- 
pressed an  expectation,  or  desire  that  they  should  be 
fed  long  at  the  Government  expense.  All  promptly 
said,  "We  want  to  work  and  get  our  own  living;  we 
want  something  to  do,  and  we  will  work  all  the  harder 
for  being  free." 

It  would  be  false  to  deny  that  these  people  are  igno- 
rant. How  could  they  be  anything  else?  They  need 
instruction  in  the  very  rudiments  of  education,  and  self- 
supporting  industry,  economy  and  thrift.  But  never 
were  a  people  more  willing,  and  eager  to  be  taught. 
They  are  naturally  intelligent  and  shrewd.  Steady  and 
wholesome  instruction,  will  make  them  useful  and  effi- 
cient, as  they  always  have  been  law-abiding  citizens. 
He  who  should  expect  them  to  step  at  once  into  the 
full  daylight  of  freedom,  from  the  long,  dark  night  of 
bondage,  without  being  somewhat  dazzled,  and  needing 
some  safe  guide  to  lead  them,  would  justly  win  a  repu- 
tation for  folly,  not  far  removed  from  insanity.  The 
wTork  of  their  melioration  and  elevation,  will  be  slow, 
but  it  will  be  sure,  for  the  material  upon  which  to 
work  is  there — willing  hearts,  strong  hands,  and  grati- 
tude to  their  benefactors. 

MAGNOLIA    CEMETERY. 

Taking  a  horse  and  wagon,  both  of  which  had  come 
down  from  a  former  generation,  and  for  which  the  avari- 
cious   proprietor  asked  the  modest   sum    of  $5,  we  rode 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANTJR.  129 

through  the  pleasant  fields,  two  miles  out  of  the  city, 
to  Magnolia  Cemetery,  the  principal  burying  ground  of 
Charleston.  The  road  was  flanked  by  high  hedges, 
overgrown  with  wild  briar  roses  of  unusual  size,  and 
trees  adorned  with  long  grey  beards  of  moss.  The 
cemetery  has  once  enjoyed  high  culture,  and  a  reputa- 
tion for  great  beauty.  Natural  water-courses,  or  tide- 
ways,  wind  at  will  through  its  whole  expanse,  and  the 
hand  of  the  horticulturist  has  done  much  to  increase 
its  charms.  Not  many  splendid  monuments  are  there ; 
the  prevailing  remembrances  of  the  dead  being  the 
plain  slab,  erect,  or  laid  flat  above  the  graves.  A 
garden  well  kept,  and  abounding  in  flowers,  adorns  the 
centre.  One  monument  alone  gives  celebrity  to  this 
burial-place.  It  is  a  pile  of  marble,  of  variegated  colors, 
elaborately  carved  and  wrought  into  mosaic  figures,  of 
remarkable  beauty.  It  is  the  tribute  of  a  husband  to 
his  wife,  and  for  four  years  his  own  hands  have  been 
employed  upon  the  labor  of  love. 

An  old  negro,  of  intense  blackness,  was  our  guide 
through  this  city  of  the  dead.  He  pointed  out  the 
graves  of  some  distinguished  South-  Carolinians,  but  the 
natural  beauty  of  the  place  eclipses  all  that  art  has 
done  to  enhance  its  attractiveness.  He  told  us  that 
four  years  ago,  he  stood  at  the  outer  limit  of  the 
cemetery,  and  watched  the  bombardment  of  Sumter; 
the  whole  panorama  being  distinctly  visible.  The  keeper 
of  the  garden   permitted  us  to  pick   from  its  exuberance 


130  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

of  flowers,  the    most   exquisite   boquets  of  roses.     Scores 
of  our  party  visited  this  cemetery. 

THE    N.    E.    RAILROAD    DEPOT. 

This  tragic  spot  was  viewed  witli  the  most  painful 
interest.  The  accounts  of  the  explosion  vary  somewhat, 
as  to  the  premeditated  slaughter  which  was  effected 
there.  By  a  few,  it  is  claimed  that  no  intention  of 
massacre  can  be  charged  upon  the  principals  in  the 
deed.  But  in  the  light  of  all  these  recent  develop- 
ments, the  cold-blooded  and  atrocious  conspiracies;  the 
deliberate  starving  of  our  prisoners ;  the  fiendish  intro- 
duction of  yellow-fever  into  Newbern,  and  the  attempt 
to  do  the  same  in  New  York;  the  St.  Alban's  raid; 
and  the  attempt  to  burn  New  York, — the  most  probable 
account  is  that  which  is  the  most  generally  believed, 
to  wit :  that  when  the  Rebels  were  forced  to  evacuate 
the  city,  they  resolved  to  blow  up  this  depot,  where 
the  Confederate  supplies  were  stored.  The  poor  people 
were  told  to  go  there  and  help  themselves.  Soon  a 
crowd,  consisting  mostly  of  slaves,  was  gathered  there. 
Major  Pringle  had  mined  the  premises,  and  was  not  to 
be  kept  from,  nor  delayed  in  his  purpose,  although  so 
many  lives  would  be  destroyed.  By  some  it  is  averred 
that  two  or  three  warnings  of  this  intention  were  given. 
Grant  that  there  were,  does  this  palliate  the  deed  ? 
Who  but  a  fiend  incarnate,  would  have  given  the  order 
to  apply  the  match,  until  he  knew  that  all  the  innocent 
and    helpless    were   safe    from    harm?      The    train    was 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCKANUS.  131 

fired,  and  in  an  instant  three  hundred— according  to 
some  authorities  four  hundred— human  beings  were 
blown  into  eternity.  Not  long  after  this  occurrence, 
this  Pringle  was  captured  by  colored  troops,  belonging 
to  our  army,  which  insufferable  indignity  to  his  royal 
Carolinian  blood,  so  frenzied  him,  as  to  betray  him  into 
the  best  act  of  his  life,  as  concerning  mankind,  the 
blowing  out  of  his  own  brains  with  a  pistol. 

THE    RACE    COURSE. 

Kev.  J.  L.  Corning,  the  correspondent  of  the  "  K  Y. 
Sun,"  thus  speaks  of  this  locality,  which  it  was  not  the 
writer's  mournful  pleasure  to  visit : 

"The  old  race-course,  about  a  mile  outside  of  the 
city,  was  the  great  "  prison-pen,"  where  thousands  of 
Union  soldiers  suffered  horrors  which  Heaven  only  can 
record.  On  this  accursed,  yet  thrice  hallowed  spot, 
during  a  long  and  stormy  winter,  our  brave  captured 
boys  lay  hungry  and  shelterless.  I  do  not  mean  to  ex- 
aggerate—I mean  literally  shelterless.  The  ground  for 
the  space  of  five  square  acres  is  to-day  covered  with 
holes,  into  which  the  poor  victims  crawled  like  beasts 
of  the  forest,  to  hide  themselves  from  the  driving 
storms.  Patches  of  earth,  from  six  to  eight  feet  square, 
are  marked  off,  all  over  the  dreary  plain,  by  ditches 
dug  around  them,  and  upon  these  they  lay  through 
rainy  days  and  nights,  as  the  best  protection  that  could 
be  invented  against  the  pouring  floods.  A  plain  board 
fence,  on  one  side  of  this   acaldema,  encloses  the  burial- 


132  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

ground  ;  and  here,  as  they  died,  they  were  shoveled 
into  the  earth  like  dogs.  Over  two-hundred  head-boards 
can  be  counted  in  the  yard ;  but  these  only  avail  to 
keep  up  a  semblance  of  decent  respect  for  the  name 
and  memory  of  the  departed.  Identification  is  impossi- 
ble, and  the  weeping  kindred  will  only  recognize  the 
faces  that  are  gone,  when  they  become  radiant  in  the 
better  land,  in  the  last  glorious  gathering  of  the  good 
and  brave.'1 

And  lest  these  words  of  the  "  Sun  correspondent," 
might  be  thought  extravagant,  let  us  see  how  another 
observer  was  impressed  by  the  same  spectacle  of  sug- 
gestive horrors.  Pev.  A.  P.  Putnam  thus  writes  to 
the  "Independent."  After  noticing  the  war-scathed  and 
utterly  desolate  situation   of  the  city,  he  writes: 

"  Whatever  feeling  of  pity  one  may  entertain  for 
those  who  suffer  woes  like  these,  is  likely  to  be  dis- 
sipated, to  a  great  extent,  by  a  visit  to  the  race-course, 
just  outside  of  the  city,  where  thousands  of  our  prisoners 
were  confined  by  the  rebel  authorities.  Here  is  a  field 
of  ten  acres,  without  a  tree  or  roof  to  afford  the  least 
shelter  from  the  burning  heat  of  the  sun,  or  the  pitiless 
blasts  of  the  storm.  Here,  at  times,  as  many  as  10,000 
of  our  soldiers  were  kept  under  guard,  night  and  day, 
summer  and  winter,  with  no  canopy  above  them,  but 
the  arching  sky,  and  no  bed  for  repose,  but  the  cold, 
damp  earth.  The  whole  surface  of  their  prison-grounds 
is  intersected  with  little  trenches,  which  our  brave  boys 
dug   with    their  hands,    in    order   better   to  keep  dry,   in 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  133 

wet  weather,  the  places  where  they  were  obliged  to 
lie.  Here  and  there  also,  they  had  scooped  out  large 
excavations,  into  which  they  might  crawl  and  keep 
warm,  when  the  winds  were  chill  and  the  storm  severe. 
All  over  this  field,  many  a  noble  fellow  suffered  in  his 
wounds,  and  from  disease  and  starvation.  Some  of 
them,  as  they  died,  were  denied  sepulture  by  the  rebels, 
and  were  buried  on  the  spot,  by  their  comrades,  who 
dug  their  graves  as  best  they  could.  Others,  three 
hundred  in  number,  were  borne  a  little  distance  to  a 
rising  ground,  and  were  laid  side  by  side  in  the  earth, 
in  several  parallel  rows,  with  no  stone  or  mark  to  tell 
their  names  to  the  visitor.  Hither,  to  the  race-course, 
the  fashionable  people  of  the  city,  were  wont  to  take 
their  afternoon  drives ;  and,  at  a  little  distance  from  our 
men,  would  sit  smoking  their  cigars  and  drinking  their 
juleps,  while  surveying  through  their  eye-glasses,  with 
the  utmost  complacency,  if  not  with  the  keenest  delight, 
the  horrible  sufferings  of  the  defenders  of  the  Union. 
It  was  nightfall  when  I  was  there.  The  proud  Caroli- 
nian, the  cruel  guard,  the  multitude  of  heroes, — all  were 
gone. 

Yet  there  were  the  innumerable  trenches  and  excava- 
tions, which  the  hands  of  our  braves  had  made, — there 
the  cold  bed  of  earth,  where  they  had  lain,  and  where 
so  many  of  them  had  sickened  and  died  at  last — and 
there,  at  a  little  distance,  were  the  unknown  graves 
of  the  martyrs,  to  the  sacred  cause  of  Union  and  Lib- 
erty.      The    wind    sighed    mournfully    through    the   pine 

9 


134  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

trees,  that  surrounded  the  little  cemetery,  which  our 
own  troops  had  recently  enclosed  by  a  neat  fence,  and 
I  came  away,  feeling  that  it  was  one  of  the  saddest 
scenes  I  had  ever  witnessed  ;  and  feeling  too,  how  just 
had  been  the  judgments  of  God,  which  had  rained  down 
destruction  upon  that  rebellious  and   cruel  city." 

Upon  returning  to  the  "  Oceanus,"  at  5  o'clock  p.  m., 
we  learned  that  the  pilot  had  declared  his  unwillingness 
to  take  the  steamer  over  the  bar  by  twilight,  and  the 
time  of  our  departure  had  been  again  postponed  until 
the  next  high  tide,  at  8  o'clock  Sunday  morning.  The 
majority  of  the  party,  very  weary  by  the  day's  explora- 
tions, were  glad  to  spend  the  evening  quietly  on  board. 
A  few,  however,  paid  a  visit  to  the  house  of  Col. 
Beecher,  to  witness  a  very  unique  and  impressive  present- 
ation to  his  brother,  Henry  Ward  Beecher.  One  of 
the  witnesses,  the  Editor  of  the  "The  Union,'1  gives 
the  subjoined  account. 

"It  was  made  by  a  band  of  ten  colored  women  of 
Charleston,  who  had,  at  an  early  period,  formed  an  as- 
sociation for  the  purpose  of  aiding  our  sick  and  woun- 
ded prisoners,  in   the  hands  of  the  Rebels. 

"The  difficulties  which  they  had  overcome  were  very 
great,  and  the  fidelity  and  courage  they  had  shown, 
such  as  every  honest  man  must  pay  a  tribute  of  respect 
to.  Three  of  them  had  been  publicly  whipped  with 
seventy  lashes,  for  the  work  they  were  engaged  in, 
and  all  of  them,  compelled  to  work  all  clay  for  their 
own   support,  had  courted  this  outrage  by  devoting  half 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS. 


135 


of  the  night  to  their  holy  labor.  I  did  not  arrive  in 
time  to  hear  their  remarks;  those  of  Mr.  Beecher  in 
reply,  were  simple  and  touching.  He  promised  them 
the  appreciation  of  the  North,  and  told  them  that  there 
was  a  movement  there  to  place  the  black  equal  before 
the  laws,  with  the  white,  so  that  they  might,  free  from 
hindrance,  become  what  they  could  and  would.  No 
scene  in   Charleston   touched  me  more  than   this." 

The  evening  on  board  was  spent  in  general  con- 
versation, comparison  of  relics,  and  musical  entertain- 
ment, and  at  an  earlier  hour  than  usual,  the  cabins 
were  deserted  and  silent. 


,  CHAPTER    YII. 

The  morning  of  Sabbath,  April  16th,  dawned  with- 
out a  cloud.  The  air  was  balmy  and  incense-laden. 
The  dews  of  the  night  had  allayed  the  feverish  sultri- 
ness of  the  day  before.  It  was  a  matter  of  some  regret 
to  many  that  our  departure  should  have  been  delayed 
until  Sunday,  but  we  were  in  the  hands  of  the  pilot, 
whose  decision  to  that  effect  was  final.  We  must  go 
when  he  was  ready  to  take  us  safely  over  the  bar. 
Three  or  four  of  our  passengers  were  to  remain  for  a 
few  days  in  the  city,  among  whom  were  Mayor  Wood, 
of  Brooklyn,  and  Rev.  J.  L.  Corning,  whom  we  regret- 
ted to  leave  behind.  The  crowd  assembled  upon  the 
wharves  to  witness  our  departure.  About  9  o'clock  we 
bade  adieu  to  our  friends  on  shore,  many  of  whom 
were  the  gentlemanly  officers  whose  attentions  had 
made  our  stay  in  the  city  so  delightful;  glanced  once 
more  at  the  shot-scarred  houses  along  the  Battery,  and 
the  curious  crowd  that  lined  the  docks,  and  while  the 
band  sweetly  played  the  farewell  and  yet  inviting 
melody,  u  Home,  Sweet  Home !"  we  moved  slowly  out 
into  the  waters  of  the  harbor.  Again,  we  waved  saluta- 
tions to  the  monitors  and  vessels  of  war ;   again  were  we 


TRIP    OF   THE    OCEANUS.  lo< 

abreast  of  Fort  Sumter,  which  in  that  Sabbath  sunlight 
seemed  more  than  ever  consecrated  to  Freedom.  We 
could  not  pass  it  by,  perhaps,  never  to  look  upon  its 
storied  walls  again,  without  the  voice  of  sacred  song. 
We  uncovered  our  heads  as  we  stood  upon  the  hurri- 
cane and  quarter  decks.  What  should  meet  the  demand 
of  our  emotion  save  the  Old  Doxology  again!  With 
tearful  eyes  and  tremulous  voices,  we  sang  once  more 
"Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow!"  The 
sentinels  within  the  fort  gave  answer  to  the  strain  by 
dipping  the  colors  and  waving  their  bayonets,  which 
flashed  in  the  sun.  Then  again  we  sang  the  appro- 
priate and  touching  words — 

"Out   on   an   ocean  all  boundless   we  ride, 

We're   homeward  bound,   homeward  bound ! 

Toss'd  on   the   waves  of  the   rough,  restless  tide, 

We're  homeward  bound,  homeward  bound !" 

Who  shall  smile  at  the  mention  of  tears  of  joy  I 
Strong,  brave-hearted,  noble  men  shed  them  then  and 
there !  Reluctantly  we  turned  away  from  the  grand 
old  ruin  now  sinking  in  the  distance.  Our  eyes  had 
seen  the  "glory  of  the  nation"  ascend  to  supremacy 
above  its  crumbled  walls.  Our  ears  had  heard  the 
music  of  its  waving  folds ;  our  hearts  had  drunk  deep- 
ly of  the  inspiration  of  that  hour.  That  was  a  day 
to  be  marked  "  with  a  white  stone"  in  the  calendar 
of  every  son  and  daughter  of  Columbia.  Other  scenes 
might  be  effaced  from  memory's  tablet,  but  that,  never. 
And  as  we  "  thought  thereon,  we  wept,"  tears  of  patriotic 


138  TRIP    OF   THE    OCEAN  US. 

pride  and  exultation,  yet  attempered  by  the  remem- 
brance of  the  price  at  which  the  triumph  had  been 
purchased. 

At  length  the  bar  was  crossed ;  the  pilot  dismissed, 
and  we  were  alone  again  upon  the  broad-breasted, 
blue  and  briny   ocean. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  loveliness  of  those  Sabbath 
skies,  full  of  light  and  peace  from  horizon  to  horizon? 
and  the  bosom  of  the  sea,  breathing  always  with  heave 
and  swell,  and  then  unbroken  by  a  single  white  cap 
or  the  leap  from  its  surface  of  a  single  one  of  its 
finny  dwellers, 

"  Sweet  day,  so  cool,  so  calm,  so  bright, 
Bridal  of  earth  and  sky," 

How  appropriate  that  we  should  unite  in  worship 
and  praise  of  Him  "  whose  way  is  in  the  sea,"  and 
"  whose  path  is  upon  the  great  waters." 

At  11  o'clock,  religious  services  were  held  in  the 
Ladies  Cabin,  conducted  by  Rev.  Mr.   Cuyler. 

It  was  Easter  Sabbath,  and  the  opening  hymn  was 
an  appropriate  recognition  of  the  great  fact  of  the 
Saviour's  Resurrection. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Putnam  read  the  Scripture,  and  offered, 
the  Introductory  Prayer. 

Rev.  Mr.  Cuyler  then  preached  a  timely,  impressive, 
and  eloquent  sermon  from  Philipians  3,   13 : 

"  Brethren,  I  count  not  myself  to  have  apprehended, 
out  this  one  thing  I  do  /" 

The  Closing  Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  J.  C.  French. 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEAN  US.  139 

Iii  the  afternoon  at  5  o'clock,  services  were  again 
held,  conducted  by  Rev.  H.  M.  Gallaher,  who  took  for 
his  text,  Numbers  32,  23:— "And  be  sure  your  sin  will 
find  you  out  /"  His  sermon  was  illustrative,  pungent, 
and  practical. 

The  Closing  Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Chad- 
wick. 

In  the  evening  a  meeting  for  general  conference  and 
prayer  was  held,  in  which  a  number  of  laymen  as  well 
as  clergymen  took  part.  The  entire  day  was  fittingly 
and  profitably  occupied.  There  were  none  on  board 
who  appeared  to  forget  that  it  was  the  Sabbath.  All 
merriment  was  hushed ;  becoming  seriousness  ruled 
every  hour.  The  influence  of  that  k' Lord's  day"  will 
not  be  lost. 

Monday  passed  without  any  incident  worthy  of 
special  remark.  The  sky  was  cloudless,  and  though  a 
smart  breeze  from  the  North  lashed  the  sea  into  white- 
capped  billows ;  and,  as  we  rounded  Cape  Hatteras, 
sometimes  dashed  the  spray  upon  the  quarter  deck,  yet 
the  steamer,  cutting  the  waves  at  right  angles,  had  far 
less  motion  than  upon  the  downward  trip,  and  very 
few   on  board   were  sea-sick. 

In  the  evening,  a  meeting  was  called,  at  which  it 
was  resolved  to  have  no  speeches  ;  but,  after  transacting 
miscellaneous  business,  to  devote  the  time  to  musical 
exercises.  Mr.  Win.  B.  Bradbury  was  appointed  to 
conduct  them.  The  Plymouth  Collection  was  used. 
All  joined   in    singing   many    of  its   best    and    most     fa- 


140  TKIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

miliar  tunes,  in  some  of  which,  the  singers  were  accom- 
panied by  the  brass  band,  producing  a  grand  and 
solemn  effect. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  seven  of  the  colored 
waiters  came  into  the  cabin,  and  for  an  hour  delighted 
the  company  with  their  chorusses,  accompanied  by  two 
guitars.  The  sweetness,  compass,  and  power  of  some  of 
their  voices  surprised  us.  They  sang  only  the  choicest 
of  modern  ballads  and  quartettes.  The  look  of  intense 
disgust  which  mantled  the  features  of  Helon  Johnson, 
their  leader,  when  asked  to  sing  "  Carry  me  back  to 
Old  Virginny,"  and  his  disdainful  reply,  "  We  don't 
sing  that  negro  trash"  were  something  to  be  remem- 
bered. 

Tuesday  morning  arose  with  the  beauty  of  the  day 
preceding.  The  passengers  were  upon  the  decks,  elate 
with  the  recollections  of  the  past  few  days,  buoyant 
with  delight  as  they  saw  at  the  left,  the  distant  line  of 
the  shore,  and  at  the  right,  the  deep  green  of  the  sea 
dissolving  into  a  deeper  blue,  and  with  the  prospect  of 
soon  being  at  anchor  in  the  waters  of  Hampton  Roads. 
When  about  thirty  miles  from  Fortress  Monroe,  our  at- 
tention was  called  to  a  large  steamer  far  out  in  the 
offing,  with  her  flag  at  half-mast.  It  was  a  matter  of 
temporary  wonder  for  whom  this  signal  of  mourning 
could  be  displayed.  We  now  saw  a  pilot-boat  bearing 
towards  us,  her  colors  also  at  half-mast.  When  within 
hailing  distance,  a  passenger  shouted: 

"What's  the  news?" 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCBANUS.  141 

The  reply  came  back  faintly,  but  with  startling  ac- 
cents, over  the  water. 

"  The  President  is  dead  !"  and  the  pilot  boat  passed 
on. 

Every  face  on  board  the  "  Ocean  us"  turned  pale. 
For  a  moment  every  tongue  was  mute.  At  last,  we 
said  among  ourselves:  "It  cannot  be!"  "It  is  a  cruel 
hoax  which  these  men  have  perpetrated  to  cloud  our 
joy."  "We  do  not  believe  it."  And  so  half  hoping, 
yet  cruelly  tantalized,  we  obeyed  the  summons  to  the 
breakfast  table.  But  it  was  little  indeed  that  we  re- 
freshed ourselves  in  that  gloomy  cabin.  Coming  again 
on  deck,  we  discovered  another  pilot-boat  approaching, 
with  the  ominous  signal  of  sorrow  drooping  midway 
from  the  yard-arm. 

Again  the  earnest  shout : 

"  What's  the  news?" 

Again  the  reply — ^President  Lincoln  is  dead  /" 

u  How  did  he  die  ?" 

"  He  was  Assassinated  !" 

The  blood  curdled  at  every  heart.  "Assassinated  ! 
When  !  How !  Where  !  By  whom  !  For  what !"  Oh, 
what  a  torture  of  suspense  !  What  a  horrible  termina- 
tion to  all  our  exultancy !  Why  were  the  doors  of  our 
souls  thus  rudely  torn  open,  and  such  a  great  agony 
rolled  in  upon  them  !  We  walked  in  silence  up  and 
down  the  decks.  We  went  to  our  staterooms,  and 
poured  out  the  irrepressible  tears.  We  looked  in  each 
others   faces   for   some   gleam    of   hope   or   comfort.     We 


142  TRIP    OF    THE    O0EANU8. 

brooked  impatiently  the  slow  progress  of  the  steamer. 
We  imagined  woes  and  anarchies  throughout  the  land. 
We  breathed  at  times  the  patriot's  curse  upon  the 
hearts  that  conceived,  and  the  hands  that  executed, 
the  deed  of  Hell. 

We  prayed  God  to  make  an  utter  and  awful  end  of 
the  system,  which  alone  could  breed  such  monster-de- 
mons upon  the  earth.  Our  steamer  was  a  seething 
cauldron  of  grief  and   indignation. 

At  last  wre  touched  the  dock  at  Fortress  Monroe,  and 
received  the  New  York  papers,  with  full  particulars  of 
the  crime  and  the  martyrdom ;  the  attempt  upon  Mr. 
Seward's  life,  and  the  contemplated  taking  off  of  G-en. 
Grant,  and  the  entire  Cabinet. 

We  were  invited  to  visit  the  Fortress.  At  any  other 
time  that  immense  and  splendid  work,  with  its  grey 
walls  and  deep  moat,  its  monster  guns,  its  casemates, 
its  magazines,  its  green  fields  and  opening  foliage,  its 
commanding  prospect  of  the  "  Roads,"  and  the  large 
fleet  of  Government  vessels,  of  the  "  Rip  Raps,"  and 
the  historic  locality  where  the  "  Monitor"  and  "  Mer- 
rimac,"  decided  national  and  naval  problems  for  all 
coining  time, — at  any  other  time,  these  would  have 
commanded  our  absorbed  attention,  and  awakened  om- 
en thusi  asm. 

But  now  we  walked  mechanically  towards  the  en- 
trance, gazed  mournfully  upon  the  drapery  of  black, 
with  which  the  Provost-Marshal's  and  Quartermaster's 
offices   were    shrouded  ;   the    dear   face    of  the   departed 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEAN  US.  143 

President  above  their  entrances,  and  trained  in  crape ; 
we  were  "like  them  that  dream,"  as  we  moved  in  slow 
procession  along  the  parapets,  scarcely  noticing  the 
wonderful  armament  of  the  Fortress,  and  the  panorama 
on  every  hand,  and  in  less  than  an  hour,  returned  to 
the  steamer,   weary,   heart-sick  and  desolate. 

Not  the  least  touching  and  impressive  spectacle,  was 
the  grief  of  the  colored  men,  women  and  children,  who 
sat  by  the  wayside  or  moved  about  as  if  bewildered  and 
deserted. 

One  woman  of  middle  age.  whom  we  met  as  we 
came  out  of  the  Fortress,  had  not  heard  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln's death.  When  informed  of  it,  she  threw  up  her 
arms  with  a  wild  cry  of  despair,  wrung  her  hands,  sank 
down  upon  the  grass,  and  bursting  into  a  flood  of  tears, 
exclaimed,  "0  Lord!  O  Lord!  what  shall  we  do  now  \ 
what  shall  we  do  now  ?"  There  were  few  dry  eyes 
among  those  who  witnessed   that  sight. 

A  number  of  these  black  people,  were  sitting  around 
a  table,  upon  which  they  had  eggs  and  a  few  articles 
of  provision  for  sale. 

Upon  being  asked  what  they  thought  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln's death,  one  replied :  "  We  must  jes  pray  all  de 
more !"  Another  said  :  "  Our  father  is  gone !  But  dey 
can't  kill  de  Lord,  I'se  sure  of  dat  ?"  And  still  another 
in   similar  strain  : 

"Oh!  we  Lab  lost  our  dear  father;  but  bress  the 
Lord,  dere  is  one  friend  we  hab  above  dat  they  can't 
shoot — de  Lord   Almighty,   He's   above   us  all.11 


144  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEAN  US. 

And  so  we  knew  the  cry  of  w^ailing  and  anguish, 
would  go  up  from  every  rice  and  cotton  field  of  all  the 
South,  from  these  trusting  creatures,  and  from  every 
dusky  mourner  between  both  oceans,  from  whose  hands 
the  beloved  martyr  had  smitten  the  accursed  chains, 
and  that  cry  would  enter  the  ear  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts, 
who  has  written,   "  Vengeance  is  mine,   I  wrill  repay." 

The  brief  visit  at  Fortress  Monroe,  made  scarcely  a 
definable  impression,  save  that  of  universal  gloom.  It 
had  been  proposed  to  make  flying  calls  at  Norfolk, 
Portsmouth ;  and,  if  a  permit  could  be  obtained  from  the 
Secretary  of  War,  to  spend  a  day  at  Richmond,  but 
the  spirit  of  sight-seeing  was  crushed.  We  felt  that  res- 
ponsible duties  called  us  home,  and  decent  respect  for 
the  dead  at  the  Capital,  required  us  to  appear  no  longer 
in  the  capacity  of  excursionists.  Returning  on  board 
the  "  Oceanus,"  a  meeting  was  called  to  decide  upon 
our  course.  A  vote  being  taken,  it  was  resolved,  by  a 
large  majority,  to  proceed  directly,  and  with  all  des- 
patch, to  New  York.  After  taking  on  a  supply  of 
water,  the  steamer  was  again   under  way   homeward. 

A  considerable  number  of  our  party  left  us  at  Fort- 
ress Monroe,  to  go  to  Washington,  and  attend  the  funeral 
of  the  President,  upon  the  following  day.  Among  these, 
we  noticed  Messrs.  Cyrus  P.  Smith,  Bryan  PI.  Smith,  Charl- 
ton T.  Lewis,  S.  L.  Husted  and  daughter,  E.  J.  Ovington 
and  lady,  together  with  others,  whose  absence  we  regretted. 

Just  before  leaving  the  wharf,  a  fireman,  in  shoveling 
coal  in    one   of  the   bunkers,    discovered  three  blockade- 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 


145 


runners,  who  had  escaped  from  confinement  in  Char- 
leston, and  stolen  their  passage  northward  in  our 
steamer.  They  were  handed  over  to  the  authorities, 
and  placed  in  the  lock-up  of  Fortress  Monroe.  Two 
other  vagabonds,  who  had  stowed  themselves  away  be- 
low, after  we  landed  at  the  Fortress,  were  also  brought 
to  light,  and  led  off  from  the  steamer,  with  wrath  and 
vengeance  upon  their  ugly  faces.  It  was  a  relief  to  be 
rid  of  these  not  doubtful  characters. 

Providence  smiled  upon  us  out  of  the  heavens,  with 
the   most  propitious  weather  on   our  homeward  way. 

The  last  evening  meeting,  was  called  at  8  o'clock 
p.  m.  ;  which,  at  the  suggestion  of  Rev.  T.  L.  Cuyler, 
and  with  the  approval  of  all  on  board,  resolved  itself 
into  a  permanent  Association,  or  "  Club,"  to  be  known 
as  the  "  Sumter  Club."  A  committee  was  appointed  to 
draw  up  a  suitable  Constitution,  and  name  officers  for 
the  ensuing  year. 

A  committee  was  also  appointed  to  prepare  and  pub- 
lish a  memorial  volume  of  the  trip  and  its  incidents, 
and  another  committee  to  provide  an  appropriate  badge, 
to  designate  membership  of  the  "  Club."  Brief  ad- 
dresses were  made,  and  hymns  sung,  in  harmony  with 
the  theme  which  was  upon  every  heart,  and  the  meet- 
ing adjourned  to  half-past  10  o'clock  Wednesday  morn- 
ing. 

We  again  allude  to  the  smooth  seas  and  the  match- 
lessly beautiful  weather  of  this  final  day  of  the  trip. 
Save   the   unbreaking    undulation,    from    which    the   sea 


146  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

is  never  free,  its  surface  was  as  glassy  and  calm  as  that 
of  an   inland   lake. 

At  half-past  10  o'clock,  according  to  adjournment, 
we  assembled  for  the  final  business  meeting. 

The  committee  appointed  to  organize  the  "Sumter 
Club,'1  reported,  through  its  chairman,  Rev.  Mr.  Cuvler, 
as  follows  : 

"  The  passengers  of  the  steamer  "  Oceanus,"  returning  from 
its  pilgrimage  of  patriotism  to  the  hallowed  walls  of  Fort 
Sumter,  do  organize  themselves  into  a  permanent  Association, 
to  be   known   as  the 

"$nmUx  €lnb." 

Art.    1.  The  officers   of  the   "Club,"  shall  be   the  following: 

President, 

EDWIN  R.    YALE. 

Vice  Presidents, 

Hon.  CYRUS  P.  SMITH,        EDGAR  KETCHUM. 

Mnecutire  Committee, 

S.   M.    GRISWOLD,  CHARLTON  T.    LEWIS, 

EDWARD   GARY. 

Secretary, 

E.   A.   STUDWELL. 

Treasurer, 

RUFUS  R.   GRAVES. 

Chaplain, 
REV.   T.   L.   CI'YLER. 

Musical  Director, 
WM.    B.    BRADBURY. 

Art.  2.  The  "Club"  shall  hold  its  annual  meeting,  and 
elect  its  officers  on  the  14th  of  April,  the  anniversary  of  the 
resurrection  of  the  nation's  (lag  over  the  walls  of  Fort 
Sumter. 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEAN  US.  147 

Art.  3.  Every  passenger  who  left  the  city  of  New  York, 
on  the  steamer  "  Oceanus,"  shall  be  a  member  of  this   Club. 

Art.  4.  All  special  meetings  of  the  Club,  shall  be  called 
by   the  President  and   Executive  Committee. 


The  following  resolutions,  reported  by  Mr.  Cuyler, 
chairman  of  the  committee  appointed,  were  also  unani- 
mously adopted': 

Resolved,  That  the  cordial  thanks  of  this  company  be 
returned  to  Brig-Gen.  Hatch,  and  Captain  Moore,  Cap- 
tain Hunt,  and  Lieutenant  Hagens  of  his  staff,  for  manifold 
courtesies  extended  to  us  during  our  visit  to  Charleston. 

Resolved.  That  to  the  Neptune  Steamship  Company, 
we  hereby  extend  our  acknowledgments  for  the  use  of 
their  staunch,  powerful,  and  commodious  boat,  the 
"Oceanus,"  and  to  Captain  Young,  and  the  other  offi- 
cers, for  their  untiring  attention  to  the  comfort  and 
pleasure  of   the  party. 

Resolved,  That  we  are  especially  indebted  to  the 
Committee  of  Arrangements,  Messrs.  Stephen  M.  Gris- 
wold,  Edwin  A.  Studwell,  and  Edward  Cary,  for  pro- 
jecting this  excursion,  and  for  the  entirely  satisfactory 
manner  in  which  they  have  discharged  their  varied  and 
arduous   responsibilities. 

A  resolution  was  also  adopted  thanking  Messrs.  Saw- 
yer and   Thompson  for  the  piano  furnished  by  them. 

Mr.  Wm.  J.  Martin  presented  to  the  Sumter  Club  a 
Rebel  battle-flag,  obtained  at  Charleston,  for  which  he 
received  a   vote  of  thanks. 


148  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

Mi*.  Henry  C.  Bowen  moved  that  the  Executive 
Committee  be  empowered  to  arrange  for  invitation  to 
the  meetings  of  the  Club,  of  the  wives  of  the  members 
who  had  not  been  participants  in  this  excursion.  This 
motion   was  sustained. 

Mr.  Henry  C.  Bowen  also  received  a  vote  of  thanks 
for  valuable  assistance  rendered  the  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangements. 

On  motion  of  Edwin  A.  Studwell, 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee,  to  be  composed  of 
Messrs.  James  Rice,  Geo.  E.  Brown,  and  Samuel  T. 
Reese,  be  appointed  to  procure  a  suitable  Gold  Badge, 
with  the  die  of  Fort  Sumter  upon  it,  to  designate  the 
members  of  the  Club ;  said  badge  not  to  exceed  $5 
in  cost,  and  the  number  not  to  exceed  150. 

The  result  of  a  collection  taken  up  for  one  of  the 
Engineers,*  whose  foot  had  been  crushed  in  the  ma- 
chinery, was  announced  to  be  $535,  and  the  sum  of  $80 
was  subscribed  for  the  Steward.  The  waiters  also  were 
not  forgotten,  about  §30  being  raised   for  them. 

Mr.  Edwin  R.  Yale,  President  of  the  Sumter  Club, 
cordially  invited  the  members  to  hold  the  first  meeting 
at  the  '-Mansion  House,"  of  which  lie  is  the  Proprietor, 
April  14th,  1866,  which  invitation  was  accepted  with 
thankfulness. 

Indeed  it  was  remarked  that  so  very  thankful  a  com- 
pany as  ours  is  very  rarely  seen. 

The    Committee  appointed  to  secure  some  trophy  from 

"*See    Appendix. 


TJ?IP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  149 

Charleston,  for  presentation  to  the  Long  Island  Histo- 
rical Society,  and  the  New  York  Historical  Society, 
reported  that  they  had  obtained  for  this  purpose,  two 
640  pound  shots,  designed  for  the  Blakely  gun,  which 
were  acting  as  ballast  on  the  lower  deck.  A  copy  of 
the  Presentation  Note  to  these  Societies  will  be  found 
in    the    Appendix. 

The  hour  having  arrived  at  which  the  funeral  ser- 
vices had  been  appointed,  coinciding  with  the  hour  of 
the  obsecpiies  at  Washington,  the  Rev.  Joshua  Leavitt, 
D.  D.,  who  presided,  introduced  the  exercises  by  read- 
ing  the   hymn, 

"  Through   all  the   changing   scenes   of  life, 
In   trouble   and  in  joy ; 
The   praises  of  my   God   shall   still 
My   heart  and   tongue   employ !" 

which  was  sung  to  the  tune,  "  St.  Ann's,"  and  ac- 
companied  by   the    band. 

The  Rev.   A.    P.    Graves  offered    the  Opening  Prayer. 

Rev.  Mr.  Cuyler  then  read  the  91st  Psalm,  after 
which  he  delivered  an  address  of  great  pathos,  appro- 
priateness, and  power,  the  only  report  of  which  ap- 
peared in  "  The  Union."  We  regret  that  every  word 
could  not  have  been  secured,  but  must  be  content  with 
publishing  all  that  could  be  reported  by  the  corres 
pondent  of  that  paper. 

Mr.    Cuyler   began  his   address    by   saying : 

My  Friends  and  Fellow  Countrymen  :  Grief  is  as  simple  as 
;i  little  child.  It  seeks  no  elaborate  language ;  it  tolerates 
no  rhetoric ;  it  speaks  the  plain   vernacular,  the  mother  tongue. 

10 


150  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

We  meet  to-day  as  a  part  of  one  great  mourning  family. 
Beyond  the  placid  waters  multitudes  of  households  are  mourn- 
ing, with  a  grief  such  as  America  has  not  known  since 
Washington  died.  To-day,  a  mystic  chord,  like  the  electric 
cable  from  continent  to  continent,  binds  the  land  in  common 
grief.  We  cry  out  "Our  father  is  dead,"  for  in  a  sense  as 
significant  as  that  of  the  peculiar  people,  we  may  say,  "  We 
have  Abraham  to  our  Father."  We  do  not  mourn  him  this 
day  as  a  public  magistrate,  but  as  one  bound  to  each  of  us 
so  subtly,  that  had  we  heard  this  morning  that  the  head  of 
our  household  had  been  taken  from  us,  the  grief  could  not 
have  cut  more  closely ;  the  iron  could  not  have  sunk  deeper 
into    the    heart. 

The  deed  we  mourn  to  day,  finds  its  parallel  two  hundred 
years  ago,  in  the  assassination  of  William  of  Orange,  the 
Deliverer  of  Holland,  who  was  met  on  his  threshold  by  the 
murderer  hired  by  Phillip  II.  and  suddenly  stabbed  to  death. 
To-day,  a  despotism  more  hideous  than  that  of  Phillip  has 
aimed  an  assassin's  blow  at  one  whose  name  shall  stand 
before  the  centuries  with  that  of  William  the  Silent.  I  re- 
member standing,  a  few  years  since,  on  the  spot  where  the 
glorious  psalm  you  have  listened  to,  was  read  over  the  re- 
mains of  John  Hampden,  the  British  freeman.  With  these 
names,  and  with  that  of  George  Washington,  just  history 
will  inscribe  that  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  Not  among  those 
whose  intellect  alone  was  great ;  not  among  the  law-givers 
or  the  commanders  only  will  we  rank  our  fallen  chief,  but 
high  above,  by  the  side  of  that   first  Father   of    his   Country. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  one  of  the  finest  products  of  Ameri- 
can republicanism,  and,  except  Benjamin  Franklin,  was  per- 
haps, the  first  great  one.  He  graduated  from  the  common 
school  into  the  grand  college  of  free  labor,  whose  works 
were  the  flat-boat,  the  farm,  the  backwoods  lawyer's  office; 
and  from  thence  he  followed  the  course  of  a  plain,  simple, 
honest  man,  true  to  his  God  and  his  country,  to  his  great 
destiny. 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  151 

How  full  of  anecdotes  and  incidents  was  his  precious  life. 
They  are  as  familiar  to  us  as  household  words.  Let  me  re- 
call one  of  them,  illustrative  of  his  utter  simplicity.  In 
1860,  when  he  visited  New  York,  to  make  his  great  speech — 
intellectually  the  greatest  he  ever  made  before  his  inaugura- 
tion— he  ealled  with  a  friend  to  visit  an  Illinoian  who  re- 
sided in  New  York.  Entering,  he  said,  "  Well,  neighbor, 
how  are  you  getting  on  in  New  York?"'  "I  have  made," 
was  the  answer,  "  a  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  lost  it. 
How  have  you  done  ?"  "  Well,"  said  this  simple  man,  "  I 
have  worked  hard ;  1  have  got  a  two-story  house  in  Spring- 
field, and  have  laid  up  some  $8,000.  They  talk  some  of 
making  me  Vice-President  with  Gov.  Seward,  and  if  they 
do,  I  can  lay  up  £20,000  out  of  my  salary,  and  that  is  as 
rich  as  I  think  any  man  ought  to  want  to  be."  And  this 
man  was  within  six  months  of  the  highest  position  on  the 
face  of  the  earth. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  a  man  of  the  people  throughout. 
He  was  open  to  everybody.  I  thank  God  that  he  was  not  a 
man  of  polished  letters,  but  plain,  simple  Uncle  Abe — 
Father  Abraham.  His  transparent  honesty;  how  we  all  know 
it !  He  spread  his  bed  in  the  sun.  He  laid  his  whole  life 
open  to  the  day.  And  his  round-about  common  sense ! — did 
you  ever  know  him  to  do  a  foolish  thing,  to  make  a  foolish 
speech  1  It  is  true  he  had  humor.  I  am  thankful  that  he 
was  saved  from  the  fearful  rasp  which  his  duties  would  have 
inflicted  on  a  sterner  and  colder  nature  by  the  good  old  Chris- 
tian grace  of  laughter.  And  his  directness  ! — remember  his 
words  to  the  Kentucky  men  :  "  If  slavery  is  not  wrong, 
nothing  is  wrong "  What  cunning  sophistries  of  Calhoun 
could  answer  that  1  Remember,  too,  these  sublime  words, 
freshly  uttered:  "  if  God  wills  that  this  mighty  scourge  of 
war  continue  until  all  the  wealth  piled  by  the  bondsman's 
two  hundred  and  fifty  years  of  unrequited  toil  shall  be  sunk, 
and  until  every  drop  of  blood  drawn  by  the  lash  shall  be 
paid    by    another   drawn    with   the    sword,    as    was   said    three 


152  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

thousand  years  ago,  so  still  it  must  be  said  that  the  judg- 
ments of  the  Lord  are  true  and  righteous  altogether."  That 
passage    will    live    as  long  as   the   English  language  is   spoken. 

From  this  point  Mr.  Cuyler  proceeded  with  a  personal 
tribute  to  the  loveliness  of  the  President's  character,  and  a 
description  of  the  manner  in  which  his  death  must  affect  the 
negroes  of  the  South.  There  was  not  a  dry  eye  in  the  au- 
dience ;  every  frame  was  shaken  with  sobs ;  a  report  became 
impossible. 

Mr.  Cuyler  was  followed  by  Kev.  A.  P.  Putnam,  of 
whose  excellent  remarks  we  have  no  report.  He  read 
some  extracts  from  a  paper  found  in  Charleston,  in 
which  the  death  of  George  Washington  was  announced 
and  commented  upon. 

Mr.  Putnam  grew  warm  with  his  subject,  and  spoke 
with  much  propriety  and  feeling. 

After  singing  the  hymn, 

"  How  blest  the  righteous  when  he  dies," 

prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  J.  Clement  French,  followed 
by    a   brief    and    feeling    address,    by    Rev.    IT.    M.    Gal- 

laher. 

The  hymn  "  For  a  season  called  to  part,"  was  then 
sung,  the  band  accompanying. 

Rev.  Mr.  Chadw^ick  repeated  the  Lord's  Prayer.  The 
exercises,  which  had  been  most  solemn  and  affecting 
throughout,  were  closed  by  singing 

America — "  My  Country  'tis  of  Thee." 

The  Benediction  was  offered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Cuyler. 

Our  good  steamer  had  already  brought  us  within 
sight  of  the  hills  of  Nevisink,  and  we  began  to  gather 
baggage   and  relics,   to  be  in    readiness   to  debark.     Tbe 


trip  of  thp:  ocean  us.  153 

huge  sand  heap  upon  the  lower  deck,  which  had  been 
placed  there  for  ballast,  and  in  which  had  been  planted 
every  imaginable  variety  of  the  vegetable  products  of 
South  Carolina,  from  the  timid,  blushing  rose,  and  the 
fragrant  mock-orange,  to  century  plants,  and  sprangly 
palmetto  branches,  until  the  place  looked  like  a  young 
nursery,  was  now  robbed  of  all  these  adornments,  which 
were  carefully  bestowed  with  the  baggage,  and  all  things 
were  made  ready  for  departure  from  the  steamer. 

The  waters  around  Sandy  Hook  were  calm  as  the 
breast  of  infancy.  The  two  firmaments  of  sky  and  sea, 
conspired  to  surround  us  with  the  most  entrancing 
beauty.  Long  Island  stretched  its  low  reach  of  green 
woodland  and  Sandy  beach,  far  out  of  reach  to  the 
eastward.  The  Jersey  shore,  at  the  nearer  left,  retreated 
in  grassy  slopes  and  gently  undulating  hill-sides.  Be- 
fore us,  directly  to  the  northward,  stood  a  large  fleet  of 
sloops  and  schooners,  with  sails  all  set,  to  catch  what 
they  might  of  the  scarcely  whispering  breezes.  Do  you 
say  it  was  fancy,  when  we  tell  you  that  at  first  we  ex- 
claimed, "See!  even  the  vessels  of  the  sea  are  draped 
in  mourning  for  the  Father  of  the  Nation  !"  For,  from 
every  yard-arm  in  all  that  fleet,  heavy  drapery  of  crape 
seemed  to  be  depending.  The  illusion,  for  a  moment, 
was  perfect,  but  as  we  neared  them,  it  became  apparent 
that  the  supposed  badges  of  mourning,  were  the  deep 
shadows  of  the  yards,  thrown  downward  upon  the  snowy 
sails.  We  changed  our  relation  to  the  white-winged  fleet, 
and  the  shadows  fled.     Not  so  the  shadows  from  our  hearts. 


154  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS. 

A  few  moments  later,  we  spoke  a  British  steamer, 
one  of  the  Cunard  line,  just  out  for  Liverpool.  She 
announced  the  "  capture  of  Booth,"  which  caused  an 
exclamation  of  rejoicing,  but  papers,  soon  after  re- 
ceived on  board,  gave  no  confirmation  of  the  news. 
That  sequel  was  yet  to  transpire. 

At  3  o'clock  we  were  opposite  Coney  Island,  and 
looking  up  the  Narrows.  At  Quarantine,  a  health-of- 
ficer boarded  our  steamer,  but  detained  us  only  a  tew 
moments.  The  company  were  standing  upon  the  for- 
ward decks,  exchanging  addresses,  extending  invitations, 
calling  up  reminiscences,  protesting  enjoyment  of  the  ex- 
cursion, anticipating  re-unions,  pointing  out  objects  of 
interest  in  either  city,  and  thinking  of  loving  ones,  who 
waited  to  give  them  welcome,  while  the  Band,  in  tones 
of  liquid  richness,  played  "  Home,  Sweet  Home." 

The  "  Oceanus,"  touched  the  wharf.  Then  was  there 
"  hurrying  to  and  fro" — adieus  were  spoken,  and  many 
an  eye  was  moist.  We  emerged  from  the  steamer,  into 
the  streets  of  New  York.  What  a  startling  change ! 
Ten  days  before,  when  we  left  it,  every  avenue  was  a 
bower  of  festive,  triumphal  beauty,  ablaze  with  the 
brilliant  bands,  and  sparkling  stars  of  the  nation's  flag; 
every  housetop  and  mast-head  waved  them,  every  spire 
flung  out  its  variegated  welcome  to  the  Dawn  of  Peace. 

Now  the  metropolis  was  as  mournful  as  Charleston. 
Emblems  of  sorrow,  multiplied  and  funereal  as  the 
branches  of  the  cypress,  were  depending  from  door-post 
and  balcony,   drooping  in  every  window,  festooned   from 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCEANUS.  155 

cornice  and  corridor,  thickly  swathing  the  lamps  along 
the  highways,  as  for  a  light  extinguished  forever ;  setting 
in  broad  frames  of  black,  that  brightest  and  dearest  pic- 
ture, upon  which  a  loyal  soul  can  look,  the  sunrise 
colors  of  the  banner ;  waving  solemnly  in  long  black- 
streamers  above  the  starry  ensign;  speaking  eloquently 
from  monuments  of  symbolic  whiteness,  in  busts  and 
statues  of  a  grand,  familiar  face  and  form ;  in  the  re- 
presentations of  Columbia's  guardian  genius,  and  the 
Spirit  of  Liberty,  weeping  by  draped  and  broken  shafts 
of  marble ;  in  the  profusion  of  sadly  suggestive  tokens, 
which  covered  the  public  courts  and  halls,  and  the  pal- 
atial mansions  of  the  rich,  and  not  less  touching  and 
tender  in  the  simple  strip  of  crape,  that  hung  upon  the 
cottage  or  hovel  of  the  poor.  It  was  the  saddest  and 
the  sublimest  sight  which  ever  met  the  gaze  of  any 
now  living  man.  Yet  marvellous  as  it  was,  we  felt  it 
was  but  a  feeble  expression  of  the  sorrow,  the  chasten- 
ing, the  anguish  which  reigned  within  the  hearts  of  the 
people. 

"  Oil  pardon  us,  tliou  bleeding  piece  of  earth  ! 
If  we  are  meek  and  gentle  with  these  butchers !" 

But  this  thought  we  may  not  touch. 

As  all  that  remained  of  the  honored,  loved,  and  now 
sainted  Lincoln,  lay  in  state  in  the  City  Hall  of  New 
York,  ten  thousands  of  tearful  eyes  did  glance  at  the 
pallid,  blood-discolored  face,  pouring  all  the  love  of 
their  hearts  out  in  that  transient  glimpse,  while  tens 
of    thousands   more,    wept    bitterly   that   they    could    not 


1^6  TRIP    OF    THE    OCEAN  US. 

behold,    even    in    death,   the    features   in    whose    very   re- 
flection, they  had  learned  to  delight. 

Then,  in  the  distant  cemetery  of  his  Springfield  home, 
with    the    voice    of  prayer,    whose   pleading   he   ever   in- 
voked,   was   earth    committed   to    earth,    ashes    to    ashes, 
and  dust  to  dust.     But  Patriot— Father-- President — Mar- 
tyr— no    far-off  tomb   can    confine    him,   no    rocky    sarco- 
phagus  can   monopolize  his    dust.     There  is   a  shrine  for 
him  in  every  household  of  the  faithful ;  an  earthly  home 
for   his    omnipresent    spirit  in    every  true  patriot's  heart, 
They  may   pile  for  him   in   every  city,  the  ever-enduring 
granite,    whose   shafts   of    grey    shall    defy    the   corrosion 
of  time,    and    the    lashings    of    the   tempest;  they    may 
chisel  his  form  and  features  in    the  purest  Carrara  mar- 
ble ;  they    may  inscribe   his  name    and    virtues    on    stony 
entablatures,  to  be   set  in  rotundas  of  Court  and  Capital, 
but   his   noblest,    purest,    most   indestructible     monument 
is  already  reared  in  the  memory  and  affections  of  every 
friend    of  humanity  and   liberty,    throughout   the    world  ; 
in    the   breast    of  every    patriot    freeman,   who   hails   the 
millennial    dawn    of  the    Nation's   Redemption ;    in    the 
heart  of  every   tawny   son    and    daughter,  who  has  ever 
worn    a  shackle — and    never,  till  the   stars  shall  cease  to 
burn,   and   the   heavens  forget   to    weep,    shall    their  love 
grow  pale,  or  their  tears  be  dried  for  him,  the  Deliverer 
of  the  Nation,  the  sent  of  God.     Nor  then,  for  we  shall 
meet  and  know  and  love  him,  in  the  Kingdom  of  Glory. 

For  Washington  and  thee  twin  obelisks  shall  rise, 
Their  base  the  continent — their  apex  in  the  skies ! 


TRIP    OF    THE    OCExiNUS. 


157 


Heaven  gives  to  but  one  in  a  century,  thine  immortal- 
ity of  glory.  Thou  did'st  not  know  it  here,  but  thou 
art  learning  its  measure  there! 

Rest  and  rejoice  forever!  There  can  be  no  more  fit- 
ting words,  with  which  to  close  these  imperfect  records, 
than  the  two  which  need  no  prelix;  which  every  Ameri- 
can will  ever  be  proud  to  pronounce,  and  these  are, 

fjj^BRAHAM     fJpINCOLN. 


APPENDIX. 


iisteilaneons — documents — Jttcitmtts — etc. 


Copy    of    Dispatch     from    Secretary    Stanton  to  Collector 

Draper. 

"  Washington,  April  4,  1865. 
Hon.  Simeon  Draper  : 

The  steamer  Oceanus,  chartered  by  a  portion  of  Mr.  Beech- 
er's  congregation,  has  permission  to  take  to  the  celebration,  at 
Fort  Sumter,  her  complement  of  passengers,  estimated  at  two 
hundred  or  upwards,  with  privilege  of  stopping  at  Hilton 
Head,  Charleston,  Sumter,  Fort  Fisher,  Fortress  Monroe,  City 
Point,  Norfolk,  and  Portsmouth,  to  be  subject  to  the  cus- 
tomary military  regulations  at  Hilton  Head,  and  other  points, 
and  such  regulations  as  may  be  established  by  Gen.  Gilmore, 
for  the  ceremonies  at  Fort  Sumter, 

You  will  please  grant  the  proper  clearance. 

E.  M.  Stanton, 

Secretary  of  War. 


160  APPENDIX. 

Copy  of  the  Pass  issued  to  each  passenger  of  the 

OCEANUS. 

"  Washington,  April  1st,  1865. 
Hon.  Simeon  Draper,  Collector,  New  York: 

You  may  permit  such  vessels  as  you  deem  proper,  to  go  to 
Hilton  Head,  to  witness  the  ceremonies  at  Fort  Sumter,  and 
carry  as  passengers  such  persons  as  you  think  properly  may 
go,  on  the  express  condition  that  they  report  at  Hilton  Head 
to  Gen.  Gillmore,  to   be  subject  to  his  regulations  while  there. 

There  should  be  no  privilege  of  taking  passengers  indis- 
criminately, but  only  such  passengers  as  you  may  give  a 
special  permit.  The  clearance  should  be  for  Hilton  Head. 
The  license  to  go  to  Charleston  to  be  given  only  by  Gen. 
Gilmore. 

Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War. 


New  York,  April 1865 


fice,  ) 
55.       f 


Collectors'  Offi 
lk,  April 1865 

Permit  the  bearer to  em- 
bark for  Hilton  Head,  on  board  of  the  steamer  Oceanus, 
Capt.  Wm.  S.  Young,  in  conformity  with  the  above  order 
of  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  War. 

S.  Draper,  Collector. 
To  Wm.  S.  Young. 

This  permit  to  be  returned  at  this  office. 


Copy  of  the  Receipt,  duly  signed  and  stamped,  given  by  the 
President  of  the  "Neptune  Steamship  Company"  to  the 
Committee  of  Arrangements. 

"Received,  New  York  April  8th,  1865,  of   S.  M.  Griswold, 
E.     A.     Studwell,    and     Edward     Cary,     Committee,    Eighteen 


APPENDIX.  161 

Thousand  dollars,  being  for  passage  and  fare  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  persons,  for  a  round  trip  from  New  York  to 
Charleston,  and  other  points,  and  thence  back  to  New  York, 
to  occupy  nine  days,  to  wit:  from  Monday  April  10th,  to 
Wednesday,  the  19th,  not  later  than  ten  o'clock  a.  m. 

For  every    day   thereafter   terminating    at  ten  o'clock   a.   m. 
the  Committee  agree  to  pay  Twenty-five  Hundred  dollars. 

$18,000.  G.  S.  Howland,  President. 

We  hereby  agree  to  the   above  stipulations  in   behalf  of  the 
said  180  persons. 

Stephen  M.  Griswold. 
Edwin  A.  Studwell. 


Copy  of  the  "Instructions  to  the  Captain  of  the  Oceanus," 
issued  by  Mr.  G.  S.  Howland,  President  of  the 
"Neptune  Steamship  Company." 

"Neptune  Steamship  Company,' 
127  Warren  Street, 
New  York,  April  10th,  1865. 

Captain  Wm.  S.  Young,  of  Steamer  Oceanus : 

Dear  Sir  :  After  receiving  your  passengers  and  outfit  at 
Pier  27,  North  River,  on  Monday  April  10th  inst.,  you  will 
proceed  to  the  port  of  Charleston.  S.  C,  and  thence  to  such 
other  points  as  the  committee  of  gentlemen  authorized  to  act  on 
behalf  of  your  passengers  may  direct ;  provided  you  consider 
the  ports  or  places  designated  safe  for  your  ship  to  enter. 

You  will  exercise  every  precaution  to  avoid  peril  by  sea,  or 
fire,  and  every  endeavor  to  promote  the  safety,  comfort,  and 
pleasure  of  your  passengers. 

The  trip  it  is  contemplated,  will  occupy  nine  days,  termi- 
nating on  Wednesday  the  19th  inst.,  at  or  before  10  o'clock 
a.  m.  and  your  owners  would  prefer  that  the  time  be  not  ex- 
tended. 


162  APPENDIX. 

You  will,  however,  be  subject  in  this  respect  to  the  wishes 
of  your  passengers,  as  expressed  through  the  committee  before 
referred  to. 

You  will  request  from  said  Committee  timely  notice  for  your 
departure  from  place  to  place,  and  you  will  please  keep  an  ac- 
curate Journal  or  Log  of  all  incidents  which  you  may  deem  im- 
portant or  interesting. 

Commending  you   and    your    company    to    Divine  protection, 
1  am,  very  truly,  yours, 

G-.  S.  Howland,  President. 


APPENDIX.  163 


LIST  OF  PASSENGERS. 


It  was  proposed  on  board  the  "  Oceanus,"  that  an  auto- 
graphie  list  of  the  passengers  should  be  incorporated  within 
this  volume.  Subsequently,  it  was  found  that  this  would  in- 
volve a  far  greater  amount  of  trouble  than  was  anticipated, 
and  more  than  would  be  remunerative  to  the  purchasers  of 
the  book.  We  cannot  promise  perfect  orthographical  accuracy. 
These  names  are  given,  mainly  as  they  have  been  found  in 
the   lists  already  published  in  Brooklyn  and  other  journals. 


"SUMTER  CLUB.,, 


President, 
EDWIN  R.   YALE. 

Vice  Presidents, 
CYRUS   P.    SMITH.  EDGAR  KETCHUM 

Executive   Committee, 

S.    M.    GRISWOLD.  CHARLTON   T.    LEWIS 

EDWARD   CARY. 


64 


APPENDIX. 


Secretary, 
E.  A.   8TUDWELL. 

Treasurer, 
RUFUS  R.   GRAVES. 

Chaplain, 
Rev.   THEO.  L.   CUYLER. 

Musical  Director, 
WM.   B.    BRADBURY. 


8.  M.  Grtewold, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  A.  Studwell, 

M.  and  Mrs.  E  J.  Ovington, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Rice, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ed.  P.  Bray. 

J.  S.  Shultz, 

S.  L.  Husted, 

Miss  E.  Husted, 

Edward  A.  Low, 

Rev.  A.  P.  Putnam, 

W.  P.  Gleason, 

Edward  Cary, 

Mrs.  D.  W.  Hinman, 

Miss  S.  A.  Duryea, 

Miss  Phebe  B.  Merritt, 

Samuel  T.  Keese, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  C.  Farwell,  M.  D. 

Hon.  Alfred  M.  Wood  and  Wife, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  E.  Brown. 

Wm.  Burdon, 
Miss  E.  Colgate, 

Norman  Hubbard. 
Miss  Kate  Cool ey, 
"    Mary  Maghee, 
"    S.  P.  Searle, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm.  E.  Caldwell, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  R.  Yale, 
Mr.  and  Mrs  J.  A.  Cross, 
Wm  E.  Husted, 
Hon.  E.  A.  Lambert, 
G.  Burcbard, 
Miss  Ianthe  Schultz, 
Miss  Kate  Schultz, 
Thos.  L.  Thomell, 
H.  A.  Gouge, 
Rev.  J.  Leavitt,  D.  D.. 


Ed.  M.  Townsend, 

W.  Duval. 

Henry  Seymour, 

Stephen  S.  Hoe, 

Richard  M.  Hoe,  Jr., 

A.C.  Kellogg, 

A.  W.  Kellogg, 

Wm.  Arnold, 

Wm.  Barton, 

Rev.  H.  M.  Gallaher, 

Curtis  Noble, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Shethar, 

James  A.  Suydam, 

W.  P.  Vaughn, 

David  Maydole, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  H.  McDonald, 

Mrs.  Weeks, 

Geo.  C.  Robinson, 

Samuel  Crowell, 

Wm.  E.  Hudson.  Jr. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  L.  Merriam. 

Rev.  J.  J.  Chadwiek, 

E.  T.  H.  Gibson,  Jr. 

Mrs.  C.  C.  Dike, 

Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O.  B.  Frothingham. 

H.  C.  Reeve, 

R.  F.  Goldsmith. 

John  Lowe,  Jr. 

J.  F.  Hughes, 

John  Ward,  Jr. 

R.  B.  Denny, 

Thos.  L.  Smith, 

Jas.  T.  Atkinson. 

John  D.  Cocks, 

Wm.  H.  Parsons. 

J.  E.  Parsons, 


APPENDIX. 


165 


Chas .  Taylor, 

T.  Dwight  Martin. 

R.  S.  Guernsey, 

H.  A.  Dike  and  Niece. 

Hon.  C.  P.  Smith. 

Mies  Ellen  L.  Smith, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  P.  Starr, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  H.  Conkling. 

Master  Eddie  Conkling, 

J.  A.  Perry, 

W.  A.  Perry, 

—  Colgate, 

Mrs.  Holmes, 

Mrs.  Geo.  W.  Bergen, 

Mrs.  Geo.  H.  Roberts. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  V.  Dike. 

Rev.  J.  C.  French, 

D.  S.  Arnold, 

Master  Arnold, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  B.  Murray, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  McCollum. 

Mrs.  Thos.  W.  Coughlan, 

Thos.  II.  Magtaee, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rnfus  R.  Graves, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roswell  S.  Benedict, 

L.  B.  Squiers, 

Henry  C.  Bowen, 

Mi>s  Mary  L.  Bowen, 

Miss  Grace  A.  Bowen, 

Fred.  Ives. 

Samuel  Stevens, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  H.  Smith. 

Mrs.  Edward  E.  Bowen, 

Miss  Eliza  Cary, 

Mrs.  Eames. 

Mrs.  Col.  Simpkins. 

Rev.  Theo.  L.  Cuyler. 

F.  H.  Richardson, 

Chas.  H.  Marshall,  Jr. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  T.  Lewis. 

John  W.  Minturn, 

Rev.  A.  P.  Graves, 

Miss  Harrison, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  A.  Dailey. 

L.  H.  Biglow, 

F.  H.  Biglow, 

W.  M.  Aikman, 

L.  P.  Hawes, 

Edward  Ball, 

Charles  B.  Loomis, 

H.  H.  Crary, 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  K.  Larrabee, 
Samuel  B.  Duryea, 

D.  R.  James, 

Dr.  Allen  and  Daughter, 

Amos.Clark,  Jr., 

Rev.  J.  L.  Corning, 

-la-.  II.  Frothingham. 

Fred.  K.  Whitmore, 

John  J.  Cocks, 

Aaron  M.  Powell, 

John  Stanton, 

Wm.  H.  Lewis, 

Orington  Lunt, 

P.  Van  Iderstine,  Jr.. 

W.  J.  Magic. 

Riclvd  Howe, 

Oliver  K.  Lapham, 

M.  F.  Lynde, 

A.  F.  Bigelow, 

H.  H.  White, 

Wm.  Menzies  Adams, 

Jas.  Flynn, 

W.  A.  Spicer, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  C.  Noe, 

E.  Lewis, 
W.  E.  James, 
Oliver  Hoyt, 
J.  L.  Leonard, 
D.  A.  Smith. 

D.  C.  Morehead,  M.  D.. 
Wm.  W.  Dedrick, 

E.  P.  Whittemore. 
Aaron  Vail, 

E.  E.  Hoffman,  M.  D., 

Hon.  George  Hall, 

Miss  Emma  Hall, 

Mrs.  Hannah  F.  Voorhies. 

Geo.  McClure, 

Thos.  C.  Bacon, 

J.  Corlies  White, 

Wm.  B.  Bradbury, 

Col.  Chas.  Howard, 

Elias  Longley, 

Hon.  Edgar  Ketchnm, 

Prof.  Storrs, 

Prof.  Gallaudet, 

R.  P.  Corey, 

George  C.  Hall, 

Dixon  G.  Hughes, 

Geo.  W.  Sherley, 

Fred'k  Wetmore, 

11 


166  APPKNDTX. 


L.NGI- 


Report  of  the  Care  of  Mr.  Swift,  the   Wounded   Ei 
NEER. — Operation    upon    the  Foot,    by    1).  G.    Far- 
well,  M.  D.,  of   Brooklyn. 
"  On  Wednesday  morning,  tne   12th  inst.,  at  about  3.30  a.  m., 
Mr.  Swift    of  Staten    Island,    who    was    employed  as    Assistant 
Engineer  on  board  the  "  Oceanus,"  met  with   a  serious  accident 
from  the  machinery  of  the  engine— requiring  the  amputation  of 
his  foot.     Having  provided  myself  with  no  instruments  for  such 
an  emergency,  for  the  excursion,  the  patient  was  made  as  com- 
fortable as  possible,  until  our  arrival  in  Charleston. 

At  8  o'clock  Friday  morning,  I  procured  the  assistance  of  Dr. 
H.  O.  Marcy,  Surgeon  of  the  35th  U.  S.  Colored  Regiment,  who 
kindly  offered  the  use  of  his  instruments  for  the  occasion.  The 
operation  of  removing  the  metatarsal  bones  from  the  tarsal, 
known  as  Hey's  operation,  was  deemed  the  most  proper  one, 
having  in  view  the  necessity  of  saving  as  much  of  the  foot  as  was 
safe.  Complete  Anaesthesia  by  chloform  was  produced,  when  the 
extent  of  the  lasceration  of  the  muscles  was  ascertained  to  be 
more  than  was  at  first  supposed. 

We  made  a  curved  incision  from  the  outer  portion  of  the  foot, 
behind  the  cuboid  tarsal  towards  the  phalanges— thence  to  the 
internal  cuneiform  tarsal,  on  the  dorsal  surface,  dissecting  up  the 
flap  so  as  to  admit  of  the  disarticulation  of  the  first  metatarsal  at 
its  base,  from  the  cuneiform  bone,  and  in  turn,  the  second,  third, 
fourth  and  fifth  metatarsi,  from  the  middle  and  external  cuneiform, 
and  the  cuboid  bones  of  the  tarsus.  The  knife  was  then  drawn 
downward  and  outward,  making  a  corresponding  flap  of  the 
plantar  portion  of  the  integument. 

The  arteries  being  properly  secured,  (I  may  here  say  that  a  re- 
markably small  amount  of  blood  was  lost  from  the  time  of  the 
accident,  and  during  the  whole  operation,)  and  the  flaps  approxi- 
mated, a  removal  of  the  head  of  the  cuneiform  bone  was  found 
necessary,  to  admit  of  the  union  of  the  flaps. 


APPENDIX.  lf{  7 

Sufficient  time  having  boon  allowed,  before  closing  the  wound, 
to  carefully  examine  the  security  of  the  blood-vessels,  the  sutures 
and  straps  were  applied,  and  the  stump  dressed  with  cold  ap- 
plications. Twenty  minutes  was  the  time  occupied  in  the  opera- 
tion. Anaesthesia  soon  passing,  left  the  patient  in  as  quiet  a  con- 
dition as  could  be  expected.  I  ordered  a  hammock  arranged  for 
him,  and  he  returned  with  the  "  Oceanns,"  on  the  19th  inst. 

During  the  trip,  cold  water  dressings  were  frequently  applied, 
and  the  patient  is  doing  well. 

Respectfully  yours, 

T).  G.  Farwell. 

This  misfortune  of  the  Engineer,  was  aggravated  by  the  fact 
that,  just  before  leaving  New  York,  upon  this  trip,  he  had  ex- 
pended nearly  all  his  earnings,  in  securing  exemption  from  the 
draft. 

The  prompt  liberality  of  the  passengers,  in  raising  for  him  a 
purse  of  $535,  has  already  been  noticed. 


Copy  of  Letter,   presenting  to  the  Long   Island    Historical 
Society,  and  the   New  York   Historical  Society   each,  a 

640   LB.   SHOT,   SECURED  IN   CHARLESTON. 

Brooklyn,  May  22d,  1865. 
To  the  Long  Inland  Historical  Society : 

Gentlemen:  At  a  meeting  of  the  passengers  on  board  the 
steamer  Oceanns,  chartered  by  S.  M.  Griswold,  E.  A.  Studwell 
and  Edward  Cary,  Esqs.,  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  Charleston, 
and  being  present  at  the  flag-raising  on  Fort  Sumter,  held  on  the 
14th  of  April,  1865,  the  undersigned  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  obtain  some  memorial  of  the  war,  to  be  deposited  with  the 
Long  Island  Historical  Society,  and  the  New  York  Historical 
Society. 


168  APPENDIX. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  General  Hatch,  commanding  at 
Charleston,  and  the  kindly  services  of  Lieut.  John  P.  L.  Weiden- 
saul  and  Lieut.  Collins,  the  committee  were  enabled  to  obtain  two 
P>40  pound  shots,  designed  for  the  Blakely  guns  (of  English  manu- 
facture) and  which  were  captured  from  the  rebels  on  the  evacua- 
tion of  Charleston. 

In  behalf  of  the  "Sumter  Club,"  an  organization  composed  of 
the  passengers  of  the  Oceanus  on  the  occasion  referred  to,  one  of 
these  shots  is  presented  to  your  Society  as  a  memento  of  "Eng- 
lish neutrality." 

Signed, 

A.  M.  Wood, 

Edward  A.  Lambekt, 

Cyrus  P.  Smith, 

Committee. 


Simply  to  name  all  the  relics  which  were  obtained  at  Charles- 
ton by  our  company,  in  their  antiquarian  researches,  would  require 

a  volume. 

A    few    only    of  the    most    important  and  interesting   can    he 

mentioned. 

Mr.  Edwin  A.  Studwell  secured  the  following  : 

A  pass  written  and  signed  by  James  Monroe,  while  Minister 
Plenipotentiary  at  the  Court  of  Great  Britain,  to  Thomas  Pinck- 
ney,  Jr.,  of  South  Carolina.  As  this  is  a  paper  of  much  interest, 
we  transcribe  it. 

"I,  James  Monroe,  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  the  United 
States  of  America  at  the  Court  of  Great  Britain— 

"Desire  all  whom  it  may  concern,  to  permit  Thomas  Pinckney, 
a  citizen  of  the  United  States  of  America,  to  pass  without  giving 
or  suffering  any  molestation  or  hindrance  to  be  given  to  him  ;  but, 
on  the  contrary,   affording  him   all    requisite   assistance  and  pro- 


APPENDIX.  169 

tectiou,  as  I  would  do  in  similar  circumstances  to  all  those  who 
might  be  recommended  to  me — 

"The  said  Thomas  Pinckney  is  twenty -two  years  of  age,  five 
feet  seven  inches  in  height,  has  grey  eyes,  dark  hair,  fair  com- 
plexion. 

"  In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  delivered  to  him  this  Passport, 
dated  in  London,  this  5th  day  of  October,   1803 — 

James  Monroe."     seal 

This  document  has  a  seal  of  red  wax,  as  large  as  a  fifty  cent 
"shinplaster." 

Mr.  Studwell  also  found, 

A  Treasury  paper  signed  by  Alexander  Hamilton,  while  Secre- 
tary of  the  United  States  Treasury,  1791. 

A  letter  from  Lord  Fairfax  to  John  Baylis  in  1753. 
A  letter  from  John  Bowden,  1779. 
Power  of  Attorney  from  Thomas  Gadsden. 
Power  of  Attorney  from  Frederick  H.  Rutledge. 
United  States  Bank  Stock,  of  ancient  date. 

Dr.  J.  Allen  brought  home  as  trophies,  fragments  of  the  im- 
mense Blakely  gun,  upon  the  Battery,  exploded  by  the  rebels. 

Also  portions  of  shell  and  shot,  exhumed  from  the  ruins  of 
Fort  Sumter. 

Also,  books  of  ancient  date  from  the  rubbish  of  Charleston 
libraries.  The  title  of  one  is,  "The  Philosophy  of  Kidnapping," 
and  contains  many  passages  of  curious  interest,  as  a  commentary 
upon  the  humanity  of  the  "Slave  business." 

Mr.  Edward  Ball  has  on  exhibition  a  number  of  relics  which 
he  secured  by  much  industry — The  band  from  the  breech  of  the 
Blakely  gun — Pair  of  epaulettes  worn  by  a  rebel  officer — Frag- 
ments from  St,  Michael's  Church— Pieces  of  shell— Solid  shot— 
and  papers  of  interest. 


170 


APPENDIX. 


Mr.  Frothinghani,  of  this  city,  found  two  or  three  remarkable 
letters,  written  just  before  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  and 
giving  an  inside  view  of  the  feeling  of  leading  Secessionists. 

One  gentleman,  secured  a  pair  of  manacles,  which  had  been  in 
in  use  in  one  of  the  slave-pens. 

Another  picked  up  a  paper,  whose  date  was  lost,  purporting  to 
be  a  copy  of  enactments  passed  to  regulate  the  treatment  of 
slaves — providing  a  fine  of  £740,  for  the  wilful  murder  of  a  slave 
— £350  for  the  unintentional  murder  of  a  slave,  in  the  ordinary 
processes  of  whipping — £70  fine,  for  putting  out  the  eye,  cutting 
off  the  ears,  pulling  out  the  tongue,  and  otherwise  maiming  a  slave. 

Fragments  of  the  Submarine  Telegraphic  Cable,  laid  between 
Fort  Sumter  and  Charleston,  and  the  surrounding  forts,  were 
brought  away,  as  additional  indications  of"  English  Neutrality." 

Confederate  "Blue-backs,"  the  worthless  currency  of  the  South- 
ern States,  were  bought  by  the  bushel  at  a  merely  nominal  price, 
and  are  now  to  be  seen  in  any  curiosity -shop  window,  as  speci- 
mens of  very  poor  engraving,  and  of  an  infinitely  poorer  and  now 
defunct  institution. 


A    MEMENTO    OF    THE    OCEAN  US    TRIP. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  Union  : 

Among  the  many  pleasant  incidents  which  occurred  during  the 
trip  of  the  passengers  of  the  steamer  "  Oc^anus,"  to  Charleston, 
at  the  time  of  the  restoration  of  the  flag  on  Fort  Sumter,  was  the 
following,  which,  if  you  deem  of  sufficient  interest  to  present  to 
your  readers,  you  will  please  insert  in  "The  Union  :" 

Mrs.  B.,  who  was  making  observations  in  her  own  peculiar 
way,  having  strayed  a  little  from  the  party  accompanying  her, 
was  accosted  by  a  black  woman,  with  a  hen  under  one  arm  and  a 
basket  of  eggs  under  the  other,  saying,  "  Missus  I  want  to  give 
the  Northern  ladies  something,  but  I  have  nothing  but  this  hen 
and  these  eggs  ;   will  you  please  take  them  ?"      The  kindness  of 


APPENDIX.  171 

heart  shown  by  this  poor  woman,  was  too  much  for  the  sym- 
pathetic nature  of  Mrs.  B. ;  but  what  to  do  with  the  hen  and  its 
products,  so  far  from  home,  was  a  question  not  easily  settled.  A 
compromise  was  soon  agreed  to;  the  eggs  were  taken,  and  the  hen 
left.  A  "  souvenir"  was  put  in  the  woman's  hand,  and  she  de- 
parted in  much  delight.  She  soon  returned,  however,  with  more 
eggs,  which  were  received*  by  another  Mrs.  B.,  and  a  "  deposit" 
made,  as  above,  in  the  hands  of  the  woman. 

In  discussing  the  question  on  the  homeward  passage,  what 
should  be  done  with  the  eggs,  our  friend  Mr.  W.  E.  C. — who  is 
ever  on  the  alert  "  to  do  good  as  he  has  opportunity" — proposed 
to  the  ladies,  to  take  the  eggs  up  to  his  country  seat,  and  put 
them  under  the  care  of  the  most  motherly  hen  in  his  large  flock. 
This  arrangement  was  carried  out,  and  a  letter  just  received  from 
my  friend  C,  gives  the  result: 

Armenia,  N.  Y.,  June  10,  1865. 

Dear  Sir  : — 1  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  the  Charleston  hen 
has  done  her  duty,  as  well  as  could  be  expected  under  the 
circumstances. 

The  eggs  were  evidently  the  product  of  secession  times,  and 
stoutly  resisted  all  Northern  influences. 

But  the  mother-hen  determined,  "  a  la  Gen.  Grant,"  to  set  it 
out  on  this  nest  "  if  it  took  all  summer."  A  great  destruction  of 
capital  has  been  the  result,  but  "  victory  at  last"  has  rewarded  her 
efforts,  and  she  is  now  followed  by  a  train  of  four  bipeds,  one 
black,  one  white,  and  two  octoroons. 

I  have  neglected  to  tell  you  that  the  mother-hen  is  black,  and 
struts  with  pompous  pride  above  her  white  and  octoroon  subjects. 

They  will  be  cherished  and  nourished  with  care,  and  if  they 
escape  all  the  ills  incident  to  chicken  childhood,  they  shall  be 
present  at  the  inauguration  of  the  Sumter  Sociable  next  winter. 

Mrs.  C.  and  myself  unite  in  much  regard  to  Mrs.  B.  and  your- 
self. 

Respectfully  yours, 

W.  E.  C. 


172  APPENDIX. 

"©ictors  at  fast!!" 

How  appropriate  that  this  popular,  truthful  and  spirited  glee. 
should  conclude  these  pages!     Victory— honor— peace— glory— 

at  last ! 

Mr.  Bradbury  has  very  kindly  furnished  us  the  stereotyped 
plate  of  the  song,  as  it  was  daily  sung  by  ail  the  passengers 
during  the  memorable  trip  of  the  "  Oceanus." 


VICTORY    AT    LAST. 

SOTVG    AND    CHORUS. 
Words  by  Mrs.  M.  A.  Kidder  Music  by  Wm.  B.  Bradbury. 


P^  = 


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Introduction. 


For  many  years  we've  waited  To 
And  now  that  day  approaches,The 


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hail  the  day  of  peace, When  our  land  should  be  united.  And  war  and  strife  should  cease  ;  ) 
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FULL   CHORUS. 


There's  vie  -   to  -  ry       at  last,      bovs.        vie  -   to  -  ry      at    last!  O'er 


/  land    and  sea    Our  flag      is  free;  We'll  nail    it     to      the  mast;  Yes,  we'll 

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2.  The  heroes  who  have  gained  it, 
And  lived  to  see  that  day, 

We  will  meet  with  flying  banners 
And  honors  on  the  way  ; 

And  all  their  sad  privations 
Shall  to  the  winds  be  cast, 

For  all  the  boys  are  coming  home — 
There's  victory  at  last. —  Chorus. 

3.  O  happy  wives  and  children, 
Light  up  your  hearts  and  homes, 

For  see,  with  martial  music 
"  The  conquering  hero  comes," 

With  flags  and  streamers  flying, 
While  drums  are  beating  fast ; 

For  all  the  boys  are  coming  home — 
There's  victory  at  last. —  Chorus. 


From  the  "  Golden  Censer,"  by  permission. 

iRADBUE 

Jersey. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1865, by  Wm.B.  Bradbury,  in  the  W9trict  Court  of  th* 
United  States  for  the  District  of  New  Jersey. 


